HAWKS. 189 



death. We ought to be especially careful if, by kill- 

 ing the wrong hawk, we should destroy a friend who 

 protects our crops from mice and hurtful insects. 



Hawks were much used in former times to hunt 

 with. They were carefully trained, as dogs are now, 

 and taught to fly after any large birds whom the 

 hunters wanted to kill, and to come back at the sound 

 of a whistle. " To hunt with hawk and hound " is a 

 phrase often found in old writers. Ladies often had 

 their favorite hawks, and carried them on their wrists. 

 That such a savage bird could be tamed is surprising, 

 but falconry seems a cruel sport which I am glad 

 is no longer fashionable. 



