168 



ANIMAL BIOLOGY 



FIG. 311. SCREECH OWL (Megascops asio). 



Question : Compare posture of body, position of 

 eyes, and size of eyes, with other birds. 



than insects and other 

 robbers, it is true, but 

 they are skillful and 

 zealous in pursuit, keen 

 of eye, quick, active, 

 and remarkably vora- 

 cious. The purely in- 

 sectivorous birds are 

 the most useful, but the 

 omnivorous and grami- 

 nivorous birds do not 

 disdain insects. The 

 perchers and the ivood- 

 peckers should be pro- 

 tected most carefully. 

 The night birds of prey 

 (and those of the day to a less degree) are very destructive 

 to field mice, rabbits, and other 

 gnawing animals. Some igno- 

 rant farmers complain continu- 

 ally about the harm done by 

 birds. To destroy them is as 

 unwise as it would be to destroy 

 the skin which protects the hu- 

 man body because it has a spot 

 upon it! It cannot be repeated 

 too plainly that to hunt useful 

 birds is a wrong and mischievous 

 act, and it is stupid and barba- 

 rous to destroy their nests. 



Injurious birds are few. Of 



course birds which are the ene- 



r ... FIG. 312. GOSHAWK. 



mies of other birds are enemies or chicken hawk. 



