The Court of the Animals and Birds 189 



The bobolink had many friends as well as enemies pres- 

 ent. Every one that knew the bobolink in its summer 

 home in the North insisted that this beautiful singer must 

 be protected. But the people from the South, where it 

 spends the winter, wished the privilege of shooting it. They 

 said that its flesh formed a delicious morsel and also that 

 in the rice fields, where it was known as the "rice bird," it 

 did a great deal of harm. The judge refused to listen to 

 the plea of the himters and said that this attractive bird 

 must be protected in both its winter and svunmer homes. 



The tiurn of the blue jay came next. Every one won- 

 dered what the charge against this bird with the beautiful 

 blue plumage could be. Some thought that he was on trial 

 for his discordant screeching, which alarmed all the in- 

 habitants of the woods. The charge against the jay was, 

 however, far more serious, He had been caught while 

 making his breakfast of some baby birds which a mother 

 robin had just hatched. The quail and every other small 

 bird present called for vengeance on this ruthless destroyer 

 of their homes. The gardener also added that the bird ate 

 his cherries and apples. 



The jay now presented a strong defense, saying that 

 most of his food was made up of harmful insects and worms. 

 He proved that he did almost as much good as harm. The 

 judge, knowing what a wise bird the jay was, told him to 

 go but that he must thereafter look out for himself. 



The family of hawks was next examined. There were 

 many witnesses who declared that they were the most de- 

 structive of neighbors and lived entirely upon small birds 

 and chickens. The songbirds all raised their voices against 

 hawks, saying that when they left their nests to hunt for 



