OUR BIRDS OF PREY. 



We are now about to enter on the consideration of the Birds of 

 Prey, which, as a class, have in all ages borne an evil reputation. 

 Within the past few years, however, their lives have been subjected 

 to a most searching scrutiny, which has placed them in a more 

 favorable light, and I think it very desirable that all lovers of birds 

 should be made aware of this fact, and give "their friends justice. 



In Scotland, I can well remember, they were regarded by sports- 

 men as the thieves and robbers of the bird creation, ready at all 

 times to swoop down upon the grouse on the moors, the ducks on 

 the lake or river, or to hang around the farm-house, waiting for a 

 chance to steal the domestic poultry. Nothing suitable was supposed 

 to be safe from their attack. Lambs were carried off from the hill- 

 sides by the eagles, and even the human species was not exempt, for 

 instances are on record of young children having been carried away 

 from the cottage door in remote parts of the country. 



As the hawks and eagles were believed to live entirely by plunder 

 during the day, so were the owls supposed to take up and carry on 

 the work during the hours of darkness, reluctantly giving way to the 

 other class as daylight appeared. 



With such a record, it is not surprising that every man and boy 

 who carried a gun believed it to be his duty to kill a hawk or an owl 

 whenever opportunity offered. The keepers who were entrusted 

 with the care of the game had instructions to this effect, and their 

 industry in carrying out their orders was testified to by the numbers 

 of eagles, hawks and owls which were to be seen nailed upon the 

 outside of their houses. 



But even in these old lands an occasional voice was raised in re- 

 monstrance against the indiscriminate slaughter of the Birds of Prey, 

 some of which were believed to be totally innocent of the charges 

 brought, against them ; while others, it was stated, if their habits 

 were properly understood, . might be found to be really beneficial. 

 For instance, I have heard at least one observant keeper remark, in 



