Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-18
The Crow.

In the neighborhood. of Philadelphia
crows are very abundant; and, either be-
cause they do not molest the farmers
crops, or because the benefits they confer
are duly appreciated, they are not objects
of persecution, as with us. At certain
seasons, they move about in large flocks,
crossing the Delaware River in the morn.
ing from the east, and recrossing it at
night from the opposite direction, as they
go to their roosting-places. Ia these move
ments they often pass over the city itself
in large hocks, but high in the air, and
out of harms way. On Sunday morn
ing in April last, when the whole city of
Philadelphia was enveloped in the thick.
est fog, 30 dense and impenetrable that it
was hardly possible TO distinguish objects
across its narrow streets, Mr.. Cassin was
passing through Walnut Street, in the
rear OF the famous State.house in which
the Declaration of Independence was sign
ed. A friend called to him to look at In.
dependence Square, where, he told him,
he would see such sight as he had never
witnessed before. He Immediately crossed
the street with his friend, and approached
the park, the wholeot which he found, to
his utter astonishment, occupied by an
immense army of crows. They swarmed
over and covered the ground, they filled
branches. The entire space, in every nook
and corner, seemed alive with crows. Mr..
Cassin stated that, to the best of his
judgment, they were numbered not
merely by thousands, but by hun
dreds of thousands. Flock after flock, in
attempting to CROSS the Delaware, bad evi.
IDENTIFY lost their way in the dense fog, and
had at last found themselves ina small
park In the very heart of Philadelphia.
AS If aware of their close proximity to
danger, the whole flock preserved the ut.
most order, and stiffness as profound as
that of the grave itself A few birds
moved noiselessly back and forth through
their ranks as if giving out tacit signals,
to direct their course; and after these
movements, slowly and cautiously went
up into The air the trusty scouts which had
evidently been commissioned to explore
the way in advance of the rest.
Up into the fog covered heavens ascend.
ed these several explorers until lost to
view. But they soon returned, apparent
ly unsuccessful. Nonoi was heard ex.
cept the slight rustic of their wings, as
they went and veturned.
Again were repeated the uneasy move.
ments of those who seemed to be their
leaders, passing silently and cautiously in
and out through the close ranks. After a
long consultation, as 1t seemed. though no
audible sound was given out, another
small band of scouts slowly went up to ex-
| plore, This time their course and pro-
ceedings were different Instead of
straight upward course, as tLey ascended,
they wheeled round and round in ever
increasing zones, and at last, as If satisfied
with their observations, they returned to
point Just above their companions
and then quietly dropped down among
them.
This time the report was evidently more
satisfactory, for, after communicating its
results, the leaders once more moved up
and down among the assembled army Of
crows, as If giving their finsl objections
for general movement and the " hole of
this immense congregation, in perfect or.
der, rose slowly and silently, preceded by
the last body OF scouts, Alter Wheeling
around as their guides had previously
done, they all finally moved of in west,
erly direction, and were soon lost to view.
During all these movements, from first 10
last, not single sound was uttered which
might betray their presence in that unsafe
neighborhood.
AS Mr., Cassin passed on, he found that
Washington Square, another park a short
distance from Independence Square, was
in like manner hlled, either with another
army or with portion of the same be.
wildered army of crows They had been
going through with the same manmuyres,,
sending up scouts, and following them in
the same way, to places of greater safety.
How indisputahly do the facts of this
narrative establish the wonderful inteli-
gence, almost amounting TO reason, pos.
sessed by these birdsl And what a les
son Is taught us by their sagacious conduct
when in danger of the value of prudent
eounsels, combined with good order and
selt.control-Ou Young ROlks for Lunn