National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-17

One of the most remarkable sights

Onc OI CQc mOSC TculdrkdDl0 6lguCS
in Kentucky is the crow rOOst, seven
miles from Lexington, on the DAN
vile pike. The rOOst is SO old that
the memory of the oldest inhabitant
of the blue grass region runneth
not to the contrary. Many years
ago the rOOst was nearer Lexington,
but as the trees were cut away the
crows moved sOuthward, always
seeking the next piece of timber.
At the present time there are no
large forests in the country near the
city, and many pieces of timber
have been called into QUESTION to
lodge their black highnesses. Hun
dreds sleep in the open field for
want of a limo, and the wrinsi"
over IL desirable Ueu IN a Jree-tOp Is
something fearful. By the amount
of cawing and iawing done every
evening, we should think the ques-
tion of reconstructing the roost, or
moving it altogether, was under dis
cussion. Whether the crows will
ever abandon their ancient roost is
matter of some doubt, but judg,
ing by the fact that hundreds, II
not thousands have already given
up the trees and rOOst on the ground
we incline to the opinion that whea
there are no more trees all Will con
tent themselves with a bed on moth,
er earth. A gentleman who lives
near the roost, and who has a fine
locust grove in front of his house,
was surprised one evening to see
it black with crows. For time 1t
all went well, but the rOOst became
popular, and every even'g there was
a wrlngle to see who would get it.
AS the desirable place would hold
only few hundreds, and there were
some thousands who nightly applied
for lodgings, the noise and confusion
became intolerable. Sometimes III
the middle of the night an over
loaded limb would break, and then
battle would ensue, lasting not
unfrequently until daylight. Tired
out with the din that banished the
idea of sleep, one eight the old tel
low and his son sailed out with shO
guns and slew some hundreds o
their annoying visitors. Mex
morning the crows were all gone
and returned no more to that grove
The other evening we drove on
to the roost, and witnessed sigh
we shall not soon forget. 1t was
o'clock when we arrived on tn
ground, and already the crows ha'
begun to arrive. AT sundown the
were coming from all directions, am
long lines continued entering til
woods from every quarter until dark
F. Each flock had its t1ier or leader
who flew over the tree tons until h
found his roost, when the head G
the column lighted, .he rest circlin
round and winding themselve
about the chief. Only few crow
would light on the same tree wher
the leader lighted, from which fat
we Judge he is sort OF autocra
with the common herd, and that til
persons who slept on his tree wei
his royal family and crows high
- authority in the flock. Wheth'
we imagined it OF not, certain it
is that on one tree only three crow
sat, who kept up an incessant CAY
- ing, and every now and then OF
, would quit the tree and after tiyil
- to an approaching flock, would
turn and apparently report to
,d old fellow who sat on the topmo
re branch, and never quilted his I
sition, but kept tapping his win
and constantly grumbling abO
", something. fle may have been t
zee king of all the crow nation, and
regretted exceedingly that we d
- not understand the crow langua!
so we could report him correctly
your many readers. At times
venerable bird spoke in a higl
excited and gutteral tone, and
we may be allowed TO judge by
10 motions, he was considerable OF
tyrant in his governmental atfal
VI The crows did not seem afraid
us, and were evidently used to
man visitors. We drove up qr
D close to trees bending beneath Il
" weight, but these birds usually
DID, shy, did not mind us much until
kat companion initiated the explOs
s% ,na of a gun, when scene which l
mp, gars description followed. Inst;
'i' " cries arose from all parts Of
- wood, and thousands of crows
into the air, circling round
z. round us, cawing vOciferously.
times the noise was so great &
ION. although sitting side by side in
ne is buggy, we had to speak loudly
,,"s ,ns; order to be heard by each OF
Having raised great distress am
'we' our black friends, we drove of,
for miles saw fiOcks In the air
coming to the roOst. The rust
their wings in flying was one OF
lone most peculiar sounds weever he'
work q large flock passing over our he
II we paused to listen, and could ,
rrill pare the noise TO nothing but
.eor hutter Of q million fans, or the n
aan ,na ling of vast pieces of silk. Attic
II, y. tho crows will not abandon
; y rOOst, II Is q most annoying
Mrs. rs tho Noys from the city and adjoi
ames fay,. frequently going out
'"'''' dogs and guns and killing hund
of them. On q dark night they