72 The Partridge Family 



When a cat takes to ranging the covers, it soon 

 becomes a persistent destroyer, the habits of quail 

 making them easy prey. An excellent course is 

 to shoot every cat found beyond its proper range 

 of the barnyard and the garden. It may be as 

 well to carefully conceal the bodies, for many 

 folk who own cats do not realize what bad brutes 

 their pets may be ; and besides, as we all know, 

 " What the eyes don't see, the heart don't sorrow 

 for," as it is popularly expressed. Foxes, great 

 horned owls, and other foes need not be dwelt 

 upon, for farmers and sportsmen alike will shoot 

 them at every opportunity. 



Protectors, however, should not fall into error 

 where some of the birds of prey are concerned. 

 The marsh-hawk, the long-winged fellow with the 

 white patch on his rump, seen tacking over 

 marshes, does more good than harm, as his fa- 

 vorite prey is the destructive short-tailed field- 

 mouse. The red-tailed hawk will pounce upon 

 fowls, but seldom molests game. He earns a 

 right to live by destroying certain mischief 

 workers. The fine, red-shouldered hawk chiefly 

 confines himself to a diet of mice, snakes, and 

 grasshoppers. The beautiful little sparrow-hawk, 

 seen poised in air, or perched upon a telegraph 

 pole or a .dead stub, feeds upon grasshoppers, 

 crickets, and other insects during warm weather, 

 while in winter his regular diet is mice. Need- 



