38 GAME rRESERVERS AND BIRD PRESERVERS. 



CHAPTEE IV. 



BIRDS OF PREY. 



Birds of prey have become so nearly extinct 

 lately that most people's idea of what hawks 

 do, is derived from what they see or hear 

 about tame hawks or from watching the kestrel 

 hovering over a field mouse. But in the 

 Western Highlands they are still numerous, and 

 here, the gentlemen who think 'they add a 

 beautiful feature to human hfe,' and that 

 ' they add to the picturesque in natm''e,' are 

 likely for some time to come to be gratified 

 by seeing a poor bird full of life and happiness 

 struck lifeless on a bright May morning, or 

 carried screaming off wliile his poor mate even 

 ventures to flutter with helpless cries to his 



