302 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



birds, to the relief of the garden. By this means it is possible 

 to retain both birds and berries. 



Of all bird invasions none are quite so exasperating as those 

 of the rapacious species, the owls and hawks, which not only 

 rob us, but lacerate and kill helpless, harmless creatures 

 which, by their dependence upon our care and bounty, have 

 a share of our affection. The loss is vexatious ; the cruelty is 

 maddening. 



Owls do relatively little harm, and there is really no excuse 

 for permitting them to do that little, for it is only necessary to 

 make fowls roost indoors to avoid it altogether. No such 

 simple means can be employed to prevent the raids of hawks. 

 When pushed by hunger, hawks have no fear of man or any 

 of his inventions. They dash down and clutch a chicken in 

 a village street with as much assurance as if it were in a 

 secluded meadow. While it is apparently out of the question 

 to keep hawks away by fear, at least of inanimate objects, it is 

 possible to employ to our advantage the hatred or fear which 

 other birds have for them. 



Kingbirds never allow a hawk to pass them in peace. 

 There is no better insurance against hawks than a family of 

 kingbirds located near the poultry-yard. An apple-tree in- 

 clined to grow scraggy, if left untrimmed, is likely to prove the 

 most profitable tree in the orchard, for it is almost sure to be 

 selected by a kingbird for a nest-tree. A bird-house, when, 

 tenanted by a family of purple martins, will answer the same 

 purpose. Martins have a hatred of hawks nearly equal to 

 that of kingbirds. A well-built martin-house, one that suits 

 these rather exacting birds, will prove a good investment in 

 any farm-yard. 



Some poultrymen keep a few guinea-fowls for the sole pur- 

 pose of alarming hawks by their harsh clatter. Like turkeys, 

 the days of their wild state are not so remote that they have 

 lost their native ability to discern enemies afar off. They 

 notice the approach of a hawk long before ordinary fowls, and 



