ILLUSTRATIONS 



The Naturalist decided to take the nest to his study, and 

 see what he could do toward raising the orphans by 

 hand Frontispiece 



PAGE 



THE NATURALIST 



A modest old farmhouse surrounded by beautiful trees . . 17 

 There were many wild flowers which the neighbors re- 

 garded as weeds 18 



A last remaining bit of Iowa woodland 19 



Wild flowers grew in profusion 21 



At any time or any season there was always much of in* 



terest to the Naturalist around his little home ... 24 



A SUMMER WITH THE RED-TAILS 



The Naturalist was the first to observe their arrival . . 27 

 Father Red-tail watched silently from the topmost branch of 



a dead tree 29 



The young birds kept their mouths open constantly, even 



when being photographed 31 



It was not one of the thirteen guns, but the camera in the 

 hands of the Naturalist which finally took Mother Red- 

 tail by surprise 37 



He would alight in close proximity to some passer-by . . 39 

 One youngster lacked the worldly wisdom of his fellows . 39 

 The youngsters made the best of the situation .... 42 



THE CHICKEN THIEF 

 Cooper Hawk would silently alight on some object which 



furnished a view of the poultry yard 49 



In the nest were three white eggs with a slight bluish tinge 51 



The young birds peering over the edge of the nest ... 53 



Looking directly down upon them 53 



At times they would walk out on a limb as though prepar- 

 ing for flight 55 



Two of the birds finally killed and ate the third one ... 58 



THE NEIGHBORLY SCREECH OWLS 

 They lived very near to the Naturalist's house in the woods 64 



