Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-28

A PROTEST AGAINST TIE NEW sPORT-THE
USEFULNESS OF THE CROW.

USEFULNESS OF THE CROW.
Editor State Journal The cruel prao-
Lice OF shooting pigeons, turkeys and
crows has disappeared in Delaware since
the assumed birthday Of the Prince of
Peace was celebrated by il on the 25th of
December, and all the victims then pur-
chased were sacriticed-at least we have
not beard of It since. Is it not cruelty to
animals to put up living creatures as
targets to be shot at, TO be miamed, and
left TO perish after being wounded some
crows have been found days afterward
with ilegs or wings broken, or otherwise
disabled, among the reeds in the marshes
where they fell. If crows are troublesome
and II Is important for them to be killed,
let it be humRneiy done when they are
captured.
| But ii Is a gross mistake to suppose the
crow an unmitigated evil-Only an enemy.
| lie Is one OF the numerous wheels that
/ keep up the harmonious balance in the
| animal kingdom, and he who makes war
upon them makes war upon his own
good ard invites the rapaclty Of insects,
grubs, worms, mice, and other destructive
creatures, which devastate whole fields
and commit far greater rayages than the
crows possibly can. What it he does pull
] up u AiW = lhAlE VI WIN III Ato kAi AAtAAAAhN ,
milky state to give its young Il delicate
morsel from mere parental love Will
YOU extermlnate the race and destroy the
best scayengers in the country The
blessings that these prosecuted crows are
along the Delaware and other rivers
and along the seaboard In picking
up and deyouing dead f;h, oysters
and crabs, and thus preventing
malarious diseases untold, should
make every State Legislature enact laws
for their protection rather than permit
their determination. They never disturb
the ripened grain except that of the slug
gard, VITO leaves out his corn till the
crows begin to think It is left out solely
for their benefit Unless pinchCd by
hunger il is rare thing for crow To
Look after anything that is cared for, ex-
cept in the simple matter OF tit bits for
its young. 1t feeds mostly on mice,
moles, snakes, lizards, frogs, and the
carcasses of dead animals. He Is TIE
friend rather than the enemy of agricul-
ture. His stately walks over the powed
fields in spring aIe more for the capture
OF creatures that are destruction to the
crop-worms. grubs, &c.--than for the
seed that is planted.
1t shows depraved heart that to
crafty his love Of sport will visit the
crows castle on Reedy Island. d..where he
has made his quiet home for ages, iuthC
dead hour of night, bruise, capture and
bag him, huudr, ds in a bag, when he has
no power to help himself aud then shut
him up in by the hundreds in small corr
cribs for DAYS, till they blind each Other
with their hooked beaks, till their wing;
droop and the power of flight is nearly
. LIT MT ff ha 81 "a
at te II cents shot is mere cruelty. 1t j.
= not mere cruelty, but absolute meannes'
to thus fail upon the helpless, Is this
American civilization ? The civilization
= of some of the ancient heather nation
rcbukes IL. Is this hOuoring the birth o
I it, | do not wonder that Japan hate
Christianity, If the patrons of "rat
houses" "cock-pits," turkey, pigeon
= and crow sholing and fox chasing are it
= tpresentativCs. But they are not
They may claim TO be moral men, gOoi
e citizens, but they are teaching bar
barism to the young that ought TO max
I a savage blush.
? Thompson well calls II:
The rude clamor Of the sportsmAn's JOY,
: Not 1t subjects Tor the peaceful muse,
3" Nor viii she stain with such her spotles
Then most delighted. when she social see
The whole mixed animal creation round
Alive and happy.
'Tis not joy to hei
This falseiy-cheerful barbarous game @
> death,
Z This rage of pleasure, which the restles
}, youth
A AwAkes impatient. H'
a Inflamed beyond the most infuriate wrat
= OF the worst monster that e'er rOamed III
waste,
= For sport alone pursues the cruel chase.
= Upbraid,ye beasts of prey, our wantOn rage
4 For hunger kindles you. aud lawless want
4 But lavish fed, in Natures bounty rolled
! To Joy at anguish, and delight in blood
Is what your horrid boHoms never knew,
kEKDY ISLAND.