CANNIBALS IN COURT 



53 



of the Wise Watchers. Some brothers take their pas- 

 time in the skies, but I keep near the ground, in search 

 of the things I harry mice and other small gnawing 

 animals, insects, lizards, and frogs. Sometimes I take a 



stray Chicken or some other 

 bird, but very few com- 

 pared to the countless 

 rodents I destroy. 

 House People do 

 / not realize that 



' '' these gnawers 

 are the greatest 

 enemies that the 

 Wise Watchers 

 keep in check. 

 Day and night' 

 these vermin 

 gnaw at the 

 grain, the roots 

 of things, the fruits, the tree bark, even the eggs and 

 young of useful birds. I am their chief Harrier ; by 

 chance only, not choice, am I a cannibal." 



44 A very honest statement," said the Eagle. " Ac- 

 quitted ! Sharp-shinned Hawk, it is your turn." 



This little Hawk, only a foot long, was bluish-gray 

 above and had a black tail barred with ashy ; his white 

 breast was banded with reddish-brown, and he had a 

 keen, fierce eye. 



44 1 have very little to say for myself," he began. 

 "Everywhere'in North America I am a cannibal. I 

 know I am small, but I can kill a bird bigger than 

 myself, and I have a big brother who is a regular 



MARSH HAWK. 



