West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-10-20
A kokomo Crow.

polls Journal: kokomo, the County-scat
of Howard County, has long been known
rs being live city in more senses than
one. But il has distinction of which
was not aware until spending day
there during this week. | refer to it's
having as one of its citizens fcathered
biped, male crow, which is probably
the most learned of its species i'm the
United States. was the guest of Colo
mel Richmond, the Mayor of Kokomo.
and every fact stated by him was amply
confirmed 10y others who have been daily
observers of what am about to state.
As was on my way to the excellent
high grammar-school of Kokomo, where
| had been invited to deliver lecture
on the physical geography of the ANA
zon, my attention was diverted from the
conversation with Colonel Richmond by
seeing beautiful, glossy -plumagcd crow
sweep before us, and suddenly alight i'm
the door-yard of Mr.. Kennedy, only n
short distance from us. Colonel Rich
mond informed me that Dick, the blue
olack son OF corvus, was the property
and pet of his children, and that he
lDick) was II character we'll known i'm
kokomo. I'm other words, that this crow
was learned, could speak many words.
pranks, and daily went To the grammar
school, and was II general favorite with
all the children of the town. Man has
been considered the only laughing ami
NAL, but here is an exception, for Dick
not only laughs, but he knows how to
have the laughing come in at the right
place.
After delivering my lecture (during
which Dick, outside of the high school,
could bc heard delivering another lee
ture on his own hook), | made more par
ticular inquiries concerning the history
and deeds of the learned crow of Kokomo.
Colonel Richmond informed me that his
father-in-law, Mr.. Kennedy, some two
years ago, when on visit to his farm
(only II short distance from Kokomo)
perceived a young crow who had evi-
IDENTIFY prematurely issued from the ma
ternal nest high in the trees above Mr..
k. took pity on the gawky fcdgling and
carried him home. He proved such
voracious bird, and withal, was so con
stantly crying, like the horse-lccch's
daughter, give, give" that MIR. Ken
nedy, to be rid of the crow, gave him to
his grandchildren, the son and daughter
of Colonel Richmond. These three were
soon intimate playmates, but Dick be-
coming too familiar with the hall. or
entry, of the house, he was frequently
told in very emphatic manner by Mrs.
Richmond TO "walk right out of this"
This expression was not lost upon the
bird, FOR one day Il visitor coming TO the
house and finding the door open entered
the hall without any further ceremony,
when he was saluted by grulT voice in
very decided English: "Walk right out
OF here" And ever since that day many
u tramp, and many Il respectable citizen,
has been ordered by Dick from Colonel
kichmond's doorway. No pains had
been taken to educate Dick He is n
genius, and educated himself in many
phrases, some much more emphatic than
agreeable. took down from no less
than four persons the phrases that Dick
had been heard repeatedly to utter
Each morning during term time he
goes TO school AZ regularly IA the chill
drcn, and usually goes 10 the room
where Colonel Richmond's son and
daughter are. If in the summer time,
he enters by the window and perchcs
upon the teachers desk "only this"
and something more, for he surveys
the asscmblage with due gravity,
as if on inspection. Very often his
exclamation is bad boy" and more
rarely good boy" During the colder
months of .hc year Dick seats himself on
the window-sill outside until satisfied
that all is right, and then, as in summer
time, he flies TO pastures new" Let
me say that he seems TO understand the
school bell as well as the children. At
recess nc is sure to come back, doubtless
attracted by the sound Of merry voices.
10 Is particularly at this time that he
displays love Of mischief. He has fre-
quently been known TO come swOoping
down upon the playground, and snatch
ing off the cap or the straw hat of u boy,
has gone sailing off with il, amidst the
shouts and clamOr of his unfeathcrcd
playmates; and when at such times re-
ceiving the objurgations Of the boys, he
Will rctOrt by calling out 10 them in
most ludicrous manner every bad
crows" am sorry TO say that Dick il
not gallant, for the scamp will some
times fly off with the light hat or bon
net Of a little girl. and alighting upon
some fence he will deliberately disscct
this piece Of millinery in order that he
may obtain the feathers Of South
American or Atlantic birds, which adorn
the bonnet. IL grieves me also TO say
that Dick is thief or to be more polite,
is addicted to kleptomania, for he has
often been known TO run along clothes
line and steal all the smaller clothes
pins, and the lighter articles like pocket
handkerchicfs and stockings But Dick
does not confne his mischief 10 children.
He isagreat consumcrof young chickens,
and Colonel Richmond tells me that he
has seen Dick, with malice prepense.
watch a cat with the greatest patience
until pussy's attention was directed 10
something else, when suddenly his cor
vine majesty would seize the tip Of tab
by's tail in his bcak. giving the poor ami
NAL n severe nip, which would cause n
terrific meow, upon which Dick would
fly to the branch Of tree near by and
laugh in the most side-splitting manner.
Dick, ! am forced TO confess. is some
what profanc Not, IL is true, calling
down malcdictions on people and CON
fcrring d. d's-in small lctters-but he
indulgcs in expressions such as. "O
LordW in which 10 is evident that vcnc-
ration and picty are not intended.
Some Of his favoritc cries he has
learned from the little Richmonds. when
he has heard them calling for their
father and grandfather, Mr. Kennedy