The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-10
Miscellany.
A K-niucky Grow Roos,.

A K-nsucky Grow Rooss.
One OF the most remarkable sights in Ken
lucky Is the row roost, seven miles from Lex
ington, en- the Danvie Pike. The loost is so
old that the mind of the oldest inhabitant OF
the blue grass region runneth not 10 the con-
trary. MANY years ago the roost was nearer
Lexington, but as the trees were cut AWAY
the crows moved Southwark, always seeking
the next piece of timber. AT the present
there are 10 large forests in the country near
the city, and many pieces OF timber have been
called into requisltion to lodge their b ack
hi,hnesses.
Hundreds sleep in the open fields for want
OF limb. and the wran9le over desirable
bed IN tree-top is something fearful By the
amount OF cawin2 and jawing done every
evening, we should think the question of re.
constructing the ro0st, or moving IL altocetb-
err, was under discussion. Whether the crows
Will ever abandon their ancient roost is mat
ter OF some DOUBT, but judging by the tact
that hundreds it not to say thousands have al
ready given up the trees and roost on the
ground, we incline to the opinion that when
there are no more trees all will content them
selves with bed OF mother earth. A gen
tleman, who lives near the roost. and wine has
nne locust grove in font of his house, was
surprised one evening to see it black with
crows. For time all went on well, but the
roost became popular, and every evening there
was wr-ngls to see who wOnld get 1t. AS
the desirable place would hold only few
hundreds, and there were some thousands
who nightly applied tor lodging, the noise and
confusion became intolerable. Sometimes in
the middle of the night an overloaded limb
would break, and then a battle would ensue
lasting not unlreqnently till daylight TireS
out with the din that banished the idep of
sleep, one night, the old fellow and bis son
sailed out with shotguns and slew Some nm
dreds OF their annoying visitors. Next morn
Ing the crows were all gone, AID returned M
more to the grove.
Inc other eveningwe drove out to the roost
and witnessed sightwe shall not soon forget
1t was tour O'Clock when we arrived on The
ground, and already the crows had bepun To
arrive. AT spndGwn they were coming from
al uirectlons, and long lines continued enter
ing lie woods from every quarter until dark.
Each Hook had its fiier or leader who flew
over the tree tops until he found his roost
when the head OF the column lighted, the rest
clrcllng round and round and winding them
Selves about their chief. Only few crows
would light on the Same tree where the lead-
er lighted, from which fact we Judged he is a.
sort OF alistocratic parsonage, who does not as
soclate with the common herd, and that the
persons who slept on his tree were his royaI
family and crows tigh in authority in the
HOOK. Whether we imagine it or not, certain
1T is that on one tree only two or three crows
sat, who kept up an incessant cawino and
every now and then one would quit the tree.
and alter flying to an approaching flock, would
return and apparently report to an old fellow
who sat on the topmost branch and never
quilted his position, but kept flappinp his
wings and constantly grumbling about some
thing. lie may have been the king of all the
crow nation. and we regretted exceedingly
that we did not understand the crow language
80 we could report him correctly.
at times he venerable cuss spoke in high
~ excited and cultural tones, and if We NAV
be allowed to Judge by his motions, he was
considerable OF lyrant in his governmental
affairs. The crows did not seem afraid of us
and were evidently used to human visitors
We drove up quite ose to trees bending he
meath their weight, but these birds. USUALLY
SO shy, did not mind us much until nv com
panion initiated the explosion of a pun when
scene that beggers description followed. in
sta lily cries rose rom ali parts Of the wood.
and thousands of crows few into the air. cir
cling ronnd and roun4 us, cawing vociferons.
ly.
At times the noise was SO great that al
though sitting side by side in the buggy. we
had 10 speak loudly III order to be heard by
each other. Having ,aised great distress
among our black friends, we drove off. but
for miles saw focks in the air still coming TO
roost. the rustic OF the wings in flying was
one OF the must peculiar sounds we ever
heard; a large flock passing silently over our
heads, we paused to listen, and could liken
the noise to nothing but the fiu!terInc of a
million fans, or the rumpling of vast pieces OF
silk Although the crows will not abandon
their roost,it most annoy ing and unsafe one.
the boys rUrn the city and adjoining FIRMS
frequently going out with dogs and guns, and
killing hundreds OF them.
On dark night they will net lv from a
torch, and II 1t Is wet and drizzly YOU can
hardly start them up. A double-barreled
shot gun or an old musket loaded with suos,
when fired OIL under large tree, has been
known to bring down as many as forty birds.
This inhuman murder is frequently practiced
by the youngsters, who make bets on how
many crows they can bring down at a shot.
Ii startled out OF their sleep, the crows f1y
from tree to tree, and seem quite HELPLESS.
losing in the night time ali that cunning
which characterzes them in daylight. When
the firing continues for any time, thew will
ny into the open fields and there sleep until
dayl gnt.
As soon as the day begins 10 break. thew
quit their Ioost and go, no one knows where.
II has been estimated that a crow win fly a
hundred miles for bis breakfast, and return
alter supper, and we have not the least doubt
that many OF the crows who sleep in Ken
lucky are citizens OF Ohio and Illinois. We
think that about one million crows sleep at
the Church Roost, and about the last of
marcn they VIII leave US and scatter them
selyeS over the Northern States, returning
again next taltto spend the winter with us.
A gentleman who has closely observed them
for many years, says that they decrease in
numberS-that thew are slowly nassino away