158 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



tion too great to resist. How would it be 

 possible for any owl with a keen appetite to 

 distinguish rabbits from rats when just about 

 the right size ? 



Over the trees, over the fields, now up, 

 now down, dashing and wheeling and twisting, 

 first on one side, then on the other, come 

 a pair of heave-jars and their two young 

 ones, whom they are teaching to get their 

 own living. 



The heave-jar, like the owl, is a gay-hearted 

 bird, if he does sing at night. With the cares 

 of a family on his wings, some of his light 

 spirits leave him for a time, and just now his 

 cry is only Cheer-er-cheer ; then a full stop, as 

 if he was considering over the matter. The 

 full, rattling notes of Churr-ur-ur-ur-churr-ur- 

 ur-ur-churr-ur-ur, making the woodlands hum 

 again, will be heard no more this season, for 

 the birds will soon be gone. 



Large-eyed, wide of gape, with an exqui- 

 sitely mottled plumage, the fine night-swallow 

 is one of the agriculturist's many benefactors ; 

 chaffers form the principal part of its food in 

 their season. 



The kestrel, or wind-fanner, is another most 

 determined chaffer-catcher, and he is on the 



