144 THE ROMANCE OF EVERIFARM 



know it, but nineteen per cent of my yearly diet is 

 May beetles, ground beetles, grasshoppers, cater- 

 pillars, and other insects; nine per cent is carrion 

 and other anmial matter; thirteen per cent is other 

 grains besides corn ; seventeen per cent is wild fruits, 

 with a small amount of fruit from Farmer Good's 

 orchard which he doesn't miss; and then four per 

 cent is weed seed and rubbish. If it wasn't for us 

 the grub worms, cut worms, and wire worms would 

 eat all the corn in the country. Now I am not 

 bragging, but Killer the hawk got me riled up, and 

 I thought perhaps you might like to know more 

 about me," concluded Jim Ci^ow. 



Reddy was by this time nearly asleep. He never 

 did like statistics, so he gave one big yawn, stretched 

 himself, and started off, but before leaving he an- 

 swered: "Well, I was brought into the world, and 

 had nothing to do with it, so someone owes me a 

 living, and I am going to get it where it comes easi- 

 est. Ever^^one knows I like chicken, so if they don't 

 want to lose them, then let them lock them up. So 

 long, Jim. Don't make yourself sick on eggs. Get- 

 ting a little late in the season, you know. As Killer 

 the hawk said, 'Be a gentleman.' Quit before you 

 get too much," and Reddy went trotting off across 

 the fields, chuckling and smiling to himself, thinking 



