Nature Pbotograpby 5 



passed by unnoticed, but it enables us to make 

 accurate records of the things which we do see, 

 and it causes us to be constantly on the outlook 

 for those things. It helps to teach us the value of 

 animal life, and the senseless and absolutely wan- 

 ton killing of that life which is constantly going 

 on would cease if there was only a greater knowl- 

 edge of its value. 



The sweeping manner in which the farmer and 

 sportsman condemn all birds of prey because of 

 the offences of the few aptly exemplifies the old 

 adage that " A little knowledge is a dangerous 

 thing." The farmer misses a pullet, finding in its 

 place a few scattered feathers, or he may see a 

 hawk swoop down and carry off one of his pet 

 broilers, spreading dire confusion among the rest. 

 The sportsman, while beating the woods for his 

 game, finds the remains of a quail, and at once 

 concludes that it has been the victim of some 

 depredating owl. Without further investigation 

 and with absolutely no knowledge of the subject, 

 they both sweepingly and generally condemn the 

 whole family of Raptores, letting no opportunity 

 pass to destroy one of its members. 



If the man who kills a hawk, or even a snake, 

 would first learn something of its habits, he would 

 in all probability find that he was about to kill 

 one of his best friends. 



Did the farmer but know it, he is, in killing the 



