BIRDS OF PREY. 41 



think tliat falcons and sparrow-hawks mflicted 

 much suffering on birds. Were a race of 

 superior beings who perfectly understood the 

 natural history of mankind to introduce from 

 the planet Saturn a race of flying dragons, 

 each of which would requu'e a fresh-killed 

 human being each day for its subsistence, would 

 their presence inflict much suffering on us ? 

 Our stout and invalid friends, never venturing 

 out of the house, would represent the badly 

 diseased grouse which, it is allowed, the falcon 

 seldom kills. Our bold and active friends often 

 falhng victims would represent the old cock 

 grouse which ' Peregrine ' tells us are frequently 

 caught, while our women and children being 

 most generally captured would prove the truth 

 of the saying that the hawk kills the weakest 

 bird, and we should also have an idea how 

 their presence was likely to improve the health 

 of the breed. 



JSTo bird keeps a better look out for hawks 

 than our domestic turkey. Doubtless they are 



