“He is the one that steals our chickens,” said John.  “And see, he’s flying straight for the barn.  Thomas, run and ask father for the gun.”

Mr. Harvey kept two guns in his house; but he used them only for shooting hawks, when they were flying about to steal the poultry.  John and Thomas had learned to use them, and sometimes spent an afternoon in firing at a mark.  But they never did so without their father’s consent.

[Illustration:  The hawk.]

Thomas soon joined the other boys, having the gun in his hand; and after Mr. Harvey had bidden them to be careful, they followed in the direction the hawk was flying.  They kept close by the fence, so that it could not see them.  In a short time it was over the barn yard, and sailing round and round, in order to make a sweep downwards.  “Hurry, Thomas,” said John; and Thomas ran stooping along some bushes, followed by John and Samuel, on their hands and feet.  The hawk was now quite low, and the boys could hear the hens screaming and running about.  At last Thomas reached the barn fence, and his brother told him to fire.  But he could not take aim, because the hawk was partly hidden by the corner of the barn.  “I am afraid he’ll get that little chicken,” said Samuel.  “See if you can take aim now,” whispered John.  The hawk now made a sweep at one of the chickens; but it ran under the barn, and the hawk flew up a little higher.  Just then, Thomas fired.  The hawk came down head foremost, and Thomas threw away his gun, and sprang over the wall.  John and Samuel jumped after him, shouting as loud as they could.  In a few moments the hawk was dead.  It was the largest one that either of them had ever seen.  When they reached the house, Mr. Harvey was waiting for them; and on seeing so large a hawk, promised to have it stuffed for them.  The gun was then hung up in its place.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VII.

About bats.

This evening, while the boys were reading and talking to Mr. Harvey, several bats flew in at the window.  John caught one of them in his hat, and placed it on the table for his cousin to examine.  Samuel asked his uncle if it would not fly away.

“No,” said Mr. Harvey, “it cannot raise itself from the ground.  What we call its wings, are, you see, nothing but two thin skins, or membranes, stretched from its hind legs to its fore ones, and fastened to its sides.  When flying, it spreads out its toes, so as to unfold these membranes, and thus balances itself in the air.”

“Do not some people think that the bat is a bird?” asked Samuel.

“Yes.  But probably they never examined a bat closely.  You see that it looks nothing at all like a bird.”

“Father,” said John, “where did those great bats come from, which you have in your cabinet?”

“From the island of Java,” said Mr. Harvey.  “They are called Java bats.  I have seen some with bodies as large as hens, and wings like umbrellas.  Hundreds of these animals fly about the gardens and orchards of that island, every night, destroying great quantities of fruit.  The people there, spread nets over the trees, to protect the fruit, and shoot the bats with guns, as you did the hawk.”