Eastern times., 1856-03-13
Wisttllang.
The Crow.

L ne crow IS one OF the most remarkable and
well known of all our winter birds. Every
one is familiar with his black plumage, his
peculiar manners and his croaking voice.
Unfortunately he is regarded with an evil eye,
and there is no other bird that suffers such
general persecution. In no kingdom or prov
nce is he protected either bv custom or su-
perstltion, and there is no peace for him in any
part of the earth where man resides. Re-
membering the mischief he does by plundering
few grains of corn in the sowing season, and
forgetting the benefits he confers by the de-
struction of myriads of noxious insects, the
farmer looks upon him as the enemy of his
crops, and destroys his species by every means
which he can invent as an excuse for this
atrocity, ,>he is accused of all sorts of unamia-
Bile and wicked propensties. He is abused
for his cunning, his STEALTH his mischievous-
ness and his habits of theving. But his steal
ings might justly be regarded as the perquis-
ties attached TO his office as scavenger and de-
stroyer of yermin. His cunning is the natu-
raj result of the Vaccinations made against
him on all sides. and the traps that are con
stantly set for his destruction.
His wariness is really virtue because
under the circumstances in which he is placed
it is one of his principal means of selfpreser-
Walton and | am persuaded that the persecu-
tions to which he has always been subjected,
have caused the development of an amount of
intelligence that elevates him many degrees
above the majority of the feathered race. Let
one be born with no more sagacity than a
common hen or turkey, and he would not es-
cape the snares of his enemies week after he
had left the maternal nest. There are few
birds more interesting from their manifesto
tions of intelligence. He observes many things
that seem 10 require reason in the observer.
He knows at once from the department of the
person whom he sees, whether he is prepared
TO do him an injury, and takes but little notice
of one who is strollng the fields in search OF
flowers or for recreation. Such person may
approach so near him as TO observe his man.
ners, and even TO note the varying shades OF
his plumage. Neither does he seem to re-
gard the presence of party in chase or on
horseback but if you have gun in your hand,
you can hardly get sight of one for the whole
day:
The crow is by no means destitute of beau
ty. His coat Of glossy bl1ck, with violet re-
fection; his hazel eyes and intelligent look
his stately and graceful gait, and his steady
and equable fight, Notwithstanding his want
Of brilliant colors, combine TO yield him
handsome and dignifed appearance. The
crow, and his congener, the raven, have al
ways been celebrated for their gravity-an
appearance which seems to be the result of
his black sacsrdotal dress and certain exhibi-
demeanor. Any one who should watch his
motions for the space of five minutes, either
when he is stalking alone in the Geld, or when
he is careering with his fellows around some
tall tree in the forest, must be satisfied that he
deserves to be called a grave bird. His voice
has nothing TO recommend it; it is harsh and
unmelodious. Bnt Esop mistook the charac-
Ter of the crow when he represented him as
the dupe of the fox, who gained the bit of
cheese he carried in his mouth by inducing
him TO sing and exhibit his musical powers.
Vanity is evidently no part of his character.
The expedients used for the destruction of
the crow in all parts of the world are cruel
and shameful. The laws of every nation have
set price upon his head. He is hunted with
the gun; he is caught in crow-nets he is
hoodwinked with bits OF paper smeared with
brd-lime, in which he is caught by means of
bait he is poisoned with grain stepped in
helebore and strychnine the reeds in which
the roots are treacherously set on fire he is
pinioned by his wings On his back, and
made TO grapple his sympaihizing companions
who come TO his rescue and children, after
receiving lessons of humanity, are taught to
regard the crow as an unworthy subject when
carrying those precepts into practice. Under
every government he is made an outlaw by
legislation, and is everywhere held up for pub
lie execration.
AS an apology for all this inhumaniiy, are
enumerated a variety of misdemeanors Of which
he is guilty. He pilages the cornfeld, both
in the spring when it is planted and in the au-
tumn when it is gathered; he destroys the
eggs of innocent birds whom we would like to
preserve; he purlons fruit from the garden,
and carries off young ducks and chickens from
the farm-yard. But to make amends for these
overt acts, he confers upon man some special
benefits. Omnivorous in his habits, he de-
stroys in the course Of the year vast niy-iads
of grubs, worms, and noxious vermin he
clears the land of offensive masses of decayed
fish he hunts the grassfelds, and pulls out
and devcurs the cut-wotm whenever he per-