This court is now adjourned!" [Illustration: Bald Eagle] After the children had spent some time in looking at the Hawks and Owls, Nat asked, "What are the 'game birds,' uncle, that those cannibals sometimes eat ?" "That is not an easy question to answer, my boy; but as we are coming to these birds next, you will learn about them separately.

Game birds as a whole are those chiefly useful as food, and the hunting of them is the occupation of sportsmen.

These birds may belong to the working guilds, and all have habits interesting to bird-lovers; but as regards their value to the world, it is mostly in the shape of food for House People." "Then it isn't wrong for people to kill these birds for food ?" "No, not if it is done fairly, in a true sportsmanlike spirit, and not with traps or snares, or in the nesting season, when no bird should be molested.

The true sportsman never shoots a bird out of season, or a song bird at any time, and it is owing to his care that laws are made to stop the pot-hunters." "Are the game birds tree birds, or what ?" asked Dodo.
"There are many kinds," said the Doctor.

"Some of them have cooing notes and build their nests in trees; these belong to the Pigeon family.