The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-03-17
VOL. XX--NO. II.
"Speed the E'IOsp,o
Hawks and Crows.


In the current issue of the Farmer ]. C.
Llnville presents this plea for an uppopu-
lar bird:
I'm the discussion of the bird question
at the last meeting of Lancaster county
agricultural and horticultural society.
whlle 1t was agreed that all other birds
should be protected by law from the gun.
ner, the society seemed unanimous in their
verdict that the chicken hawk should be
the target of every rifle and shot GUN in
the country. At one time / entertained
similar views in regard to the chicken
hawk, but have not shot one for wears
being fully convinced that he is IL friend
of the farmer.
Darwin shows how, in many cases. the
crop OF clover seed is dependent on the
supply of cats in the neighborhood. Hum.
Die Dees distribute the pollen on the clo
yer bloom; field mice destroy the younu
humble bees, cats catch the mice. But
Inc chicken hawk is better mouser than
the cat. Nothing hurts the eye of the far
mer worse than to see great bare spots in
MS grass fields. where field mice have work
ed under the snow and destroyed the roots
OF the clover.
nave fine large hawk that every doy
sits for hours perched on horizontal deod
branch of an old chestnut tree in the field
he forms fine, clea-rcut picture against
the wintry sky as he sits there motionless
as statue. Now and then he swoons
down and takes up a mouse, with ncrhons
some dead grass in his talons. I would
not exchange him for the best game cock
or the best Brahma in the country. Then,
a ri Tnn fnln n
trldge, or bears off pullet for his crop,
but ne is fully entitled to these as part
pay Tor his services rs q mouser.
1t Is true that, viewed from sentiment
tai standpoint, birds of prey afford but few
traits to challenge our admiration. But
science teaches their use, and when science
ana sentiment come in conflict we are
bound to accept the surer results of the
former.
The crow is also a much malgned bird.
Thanks to his sagacity, this "bird of i'll
omen" generally escapes the shots of his
prosecutors. The crow is represented as
living to great age. Tennyson alludes
to this in the sonorous lines
AS the many wintcred crow that leads the
changing rookery home"
The crow has decided taste for "prubs.n
and does good service in the corn field in
early spring. I have known this bird to
hook cut worms out of hill of corn with
It's beak, and leave the grain untouch
ed.
L once was very much amused at one of
these ebony birds that found nest of hens
eggs near neighbours barn. l saw him
roll the eggs out of the nest, and then fly
OH to grove near by. Presently two crows
returned from the wood, and had n lappy
time eating the eggs. l judged that one
OF these was the crow that found the eggs
and the other was his wife, though can
not be qualified that such was the fact
Perhaps it was another crows wife. If
my first conjecture in regard to their con.
sanguinity was right, the bird certainly
showed more so licitudc for the comfort of
his alta frau than some husbands know of.
feel kindly towards these black scavcn-
gers, and throw the butchering offal where
they can get it. They get terribly hungry
when the ground is covered with snow.