than insects and other robbers, it is true, but they are skillful and zealous in pursuit, keen of eye, quick, active, and remarkably voracious. The purely insectivorous birds are the most useful, but the omnivorous and graminivorous birds do not disdain insects. The perchers and the woodpeckers should be protected most carefully. The night birds of prey (and those of the day to a less degree) are very destructive to field mice, rabbits, and other gnawing animals. Some ignorant farmers complain continually about the harm done by birds. To destroy them is as unwise as it would be to destroy the skin which protects the human body because it has a spot upon it! It cannot be repeated too plainly that to hunt useful birds is a wrong and mischievous act, and it is stupid and barbarous to destroy their nests.
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Fig. 311.—Screech Owl (Megascops asio).
Question: Compare posture of body, position of eyes, and size of eyes, with other birds.
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Fig. 312.—Goshawk, or chicken hawk.
Injurious birds are few. Of course birds which are the enemies of other birds are enemies
