Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-01-26
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The Other Side of the Crow Question.

AImost every question mas TWO Sldes. IL
is said that we should give even the devil
his due, and there are few human beings, or
even animals that have not some redeeming
qualities however evil or mischevous they
may be in the main. The crow, it seems
to me, belongs to this class He has been
despised, and oil manner of evil has been
spoken against him, much Of it very likely
without fully investigating his character to
see what there is to be said either for or
against him.
Of late, hewever, he, like the oppressed
Of other classes, seems to have had cham.
pions raised up to plead his cause, who are
ready to prove, not exactly that the bird is
white, but that he is a benefactor to man.
kind. In summing up his merits and de.
merits, all that they mention against him is
the fact that he sometimes pulls up q little
corn for the farmer, which they claim-and
with good reason, l thinks much more
than counterbalanced by the good that he
does in destroying insects have seen two
or three articles in the FARMER, on this SUBJ
ject during the past year, and some in other
papers, and they all take this view of the
case.
Now if pulling corn were all the accusa-
tion that could be brought against his crow
ship | would gladly join with the rest, in
sounding his praises, but there is a much
more heinous sin, which fear must be laid
to his charge Those who have studied his
habits most closely, say, that during the SUN.
mer months large part of his food consists
of the eggs aud young of the smaller birds,
and these birds if unmolested would have
made ten.fo!d greater havoc Of the insect
tribes than the crow is able to.
An incident Of my boyhood has perhaps
prejudiced my mind against this bird. At
any rate it gave me an opinion in regard to
his habits that has grown stronger the more
have seen Of him. There was q nest Of
robins near our house which the whole fami-
ly had watched with interest. The parent
birds had become almost domesticated, aud
their brood had grown to be nearly large
enough to take their fight, but in an evil
hour one of these black rufians came down
upon them and the neStings werc destroyed.
The cries of the old birds brought our moth
er to the rescue, but too late. When we,
the children, came home from school, the
robins met us and told by their sad plant
that they were in trouble. When learned
the cause of the disturbance l was ready to
say to the crow, "there is eternal war be.
tween me and thee" and in fact l have NOT
seen much reason for a cessation of hostili
ties to this day, as from all can learn this
was no exceptional freak, but part Of biz
every day business, in procuring a diet fol
himself and family, during the season for it.
To prove this l will quote from a worE
which is considered one of the most reliable
on the subject of birds and their habits, viz.
Samue's OrnitholOy and O0logy of New
England "Until very recently have beer
the earnest advocate of these birds, and have
believed that the benefits they render mucI
more than balanAo the injuries they iuaict
but must say, that after careful considera
tion, my faith in their utility is considerably
shaken"
Then follows q calculation based upon
careful observation Of their habits and tn
habits of the birds which they destroy. II
allows that the benefit derived from them ex
ceeds the injury received except for abou
two months; from the middle of May to th
middle of July but during these two month
the evil they inaict by destroying the egg
aud young Of the smaller birds is 50 immens
that, in his opinion, it greatly over-balancC
the benefit during the remainder Of the yea
Taking the unit one to represent the labor
of one day, he proceeds to credit the Gro
with whatever good it has accomplished an
: to charge him with the evils. His summiu
up will state in his own words ave 6l
that during the whole year it is beneficial
the amount of 229 units, and that they a
injurious TO the extent of 4,9l8 units.
for the sake of indulgence we take but on
fourth of this enormous disprOpOrtion as a
tual fact, We still have an exhibit that prov
at once that these birds arc not only wort
less, but are ruinOusly destructive"
In conclusion will say that the jays a
equally injurious with the crows, and th
they are not deserving a moment s indulgen
or protection at the hands Of the ruralist.
B.A.E
WaifOfsId, JaHHayy, 1877.