Why Wage War Against the Hawks? 233 



had approached with noiseless tread over the soft, grassy 

 turf. In like silence coming to a stop, he took survey of 

 the long-legged bird -piscator as himself continuing to 

 regard it for more than a minute. It might have been 

 longer but for a fancy occurring to him, and yielding to 

 this, he extended his trout rod, and with its tip touched 

 and tickled the heron on the back of the neck. The 

 bird, taken by surprise, seemed absolutely astounded, so 

 much that for some seconds it made no movement, but 

 stood as if dazed aud unable to stir from the spot. At 

 length, however, it recovered itself, and, spreading its 

 huge wings, rose up into the air, with a fluttering, eccen- 

 tric flight and manner so comical that the angler, though 

 alone, could not restrain himself from loud laughter. 



WHY WAGE WAR AGAINST THE HAWKS? 



No doubt the disciples of aestheticism would back me 

 in the advocacy of protection to our birds of prey 

 especially the Falconidce. So would any one with a spark 

 of sentiment who has ever watched kite, kestrel, or pere- 

 grine winging its way through the " ambient air." The 

 wheelings and spiral windings ; the pause on quickly 

 pulsing wings, as if the bird were settled upon a perch, 

 then the rapid downward shoot, as arrow from bow, are 

 all displays of graceful motion, the very perfection of 

 it, while the presence of the falcon itself adds an in- 

 describable interest to the scene. Yet, for the sake of a 

 few pheasants or partridges so few as to be scarce worth 

 consideration a fellow in a velveteen shooting-coat is 

 empowered to wage constant war upon these beautiful 



