Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-23
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Mr. EpIroR:-In your issue last week
we find the following extract taken
from the n. Y. Home Journal.
THE long persecu.ed crew has been
found "by actual experience, to do far
more good by the waste quantities OF
crubs and insects be devours, than the
little harm he does in the few grains OF
corn he pulls up" "He is one of the
farmers uest friends" So we thought
eight years ago, aud acting in good
faith upon that belief we encouraged his
visits upon our premises. They mated
there, md built their nests and reared
there young unmo lested, and the ever
greens became vocal with their music,
though it did not harmonic perfectly
with the sweeter NOES of the thrnshes
wrens, sparrows and other domestic
birds whose warblings, during the
Summer months cheered and delight
Ell our hearts, but viewed in the light
Of the farmers best friends" its hoarse
croak was sweet music TO our ears.
and they became almost as friendly a.
the robin, and in the fall lhev held
their "hdtrkaSs" aud their concerts
within all arrows flight of our dwelling
pretending 20 be grateful for theii
Immunity from the sportsman's shot
aud the protection our grounds afford
ed them from the missiles of thought.
less and destructive boys; and when
they gathered our corn before it was
foot high, and shelled our peas before
they were ready for the harvest, We
felt no reyengeful spirit against hi:
Ebon Magisty, but reflected that W,
were repaid a hundred fold for ths
toll he had taken without liberty
'by the vast quantities of grubs and
insects be deyoured' de-, But as th,
seasons rolled by. and our eyes were
opened, 1--we found il was all a snare and
delusion; this innocent harmless birt
of the Home Journal. We soon dis
covered him to be deceitful sneakins
thief and robber, a highwaynan OF th'
meanest and most contemplate type
II the crow would confine his depre
dations 'sto the little harm he does il
the few grains OF corn lie pulls up,
their might be some proprieiy in sly
ling him "one of the farmers bes
friends" But this is the least OF his baC
traits. We charge it upon him that hs
is one of the farmers pOrSt enemies
There is not single feathered songstel
whose beautiful plumage aud swee
melody brings joy and gladness TO gu
hearts, as they live their lives arouDC
our homes, but destroy as many, il
not more, ''grubs and noxious insects
in season, than the crow: their live
abound in good and kindly deeds, will
no evil acts 20 stain their characters
or blast their regulations. But 18Th,
long prosecuted crow )" We soon fouDC
proved upon the eggs and young Of ID,
hundreds of sweet and beautiful bird
which enlivened our home by thei
songs of praise. lie would steal like
serpent in among the foliage of tn
trees where their homes were made
and like the assassin not only rob then
of their eggs, but takes the live OF th'
poor unfedged birds, which unsuspect
ing evil would open their conhdin:
mouths with the expectation OF receiy
ing food from their murderer. II i
safe 10 say that one crow will thu
destroy in a season, the lives of mar,
q. smaller birds which live almost entire
ly upon "grubs and insects" which
not the case with the crow. If one c
the little feathered tribe which thi
rspacious bird takes delight in destroy
ing will do more good to the farme
if permitted to live, than our crow
what will be said of the charm ths
our crow will do, which destroys th
lives Of great number of little inseC
eating birds, that were it not for thi
bird OF evil, would destroy nor
"noxious insects" which prey upon th
fruits of the farmers labors than
whole flock OF crows? The result hs
been that we no longer take stock
the "harmless crow" and their nesi
are scarce upon our premises.
Crows kill young chickens. A lad
in Harrington, lost by item 80 yOuD
chickens in the space Of three weet
few Summers ago.
ROBIN.
Cherryfield, May 10th, 1873.