Sometimes, for a joke, I kill Sparrows and take their nest! Or make myself a home in a dove-cote--only I never seem to stay there long, for the Doves tell tales about me.

I can sing a little, too; I have a high soprano voice and I----" "That will do," interrupted the Eagle.

"For a small bird you are a great talker.

But you are acquitted! Who comes next?
Brother Osprey ?" The children recognized the Fish Hawk they had seen the first day they went to the sea-shore.
"The Osprey is a fisherman like myself, so we need not question him about his habits," continued the Eagle, who had his own private reasons for not caring to hear all the Osprey might say, remembering that he had sometimes stolen fish the Osprey had caught; "but I should like to tell the House Children that he is one of the long-lived birds who mate for life after the manner of true Eagles, many of whom have lived a hundred years, and also very industrious.

Golden Eagle, what is your bill of fare ?" "The food of a wild bird of the mountains, far from the homes of men.