THE RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO MAN. 5 



account. In orchards near the woods a few trees are often 

 disbudded in winter by ruffed grouse, and some other trees 

 are treated in a similar way occasionally when the pine 

 grosbeaks visit us. In corn-fields some corn is pulled up 

 by crows, though our farmers prevent this largely by various 

 means, and from us at least find no objection when they are 

 able to shoot these wily thieves. And the same is true in 

 the case of the yellow-bellied sap-sucker when it is girdling 

 a tree, if only the owner will not extend his hatred to the 

 woodpeckers that resemble it, the downy and the hairy, 

 which are so eminently useful. In England some birds are 



HEAD OF HAWK. 



put on the black-list because they feed upon fish, but with 

 us this is never thought of. We are sure the kingfisher is 

 not begrudged his scaly diet by any one who is able to appre- 

 ciate the fitness of the bird to our river scenery. And we 

 can well spare the few fish our ospreys catch in the waters 

 of the bay, when we are rewarded by the sight of the stately 

 birds soaring through the air. About the only bird offence 

 we are unable to condone is the robbing of our poultry-yards 

 by the hawks and owls ; and here, unfortunately, the inoffen- 

 sive species generally have to pay the penalty for the crimes 

 of their more ferocious kindred. 



