A general expression of pleased surprise 
greeted the announcement, for although none 
of those present knew anything about the 
subject, and cared less, they always liked to act 
in a way that would best please their genial host. 
** And there,” he concluded, pointing to a shelf 
above the big fireplace, “‘is the mounted skin of 
the rare duck hawk. Perhaps it is the one [ 
have been calling ‘Black Warrior,’ but I have 
the feeling that it is his mate. I shall have to 
think of Black Warrior as lying dead somewhere 
among the bushes and rocks at the foot of the 
Palisades. And now, gentlemen, I ask you to 
congratulate me on having rid the community 
of this fierce duck hawk and his mate. For [ 
tell you that they are the birds that have taken 
all the choice pigeons lost this spring by every 
man sitting before me at this moment.” 
He paused to let his words sink in; and as he 
did so was not surprised to see by their looks 
that some of them thought he was claiming too 
much for a single pair of hawks. 
‘Last week,’’ he went on, “‘I asked every one of 
you to give me a list of the blooded pigeon stock 
liy(s: 
