Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09

| ice OF the river. 7 But where do they weather
| those fierce blasts and keen frosts which
| characterize our annual ice and snow
| period? Ornithology is not very DEFINITE on
| this point, but believe it is usually con-
sidered that they fluctuatc back and forth
| at such times, accomm dating themselves to
circumstances, leading a very nonadic and
doubtless precarious existence, possibly
seeking some asylum in the coolest of
the weather where food may be obtained.
| After winter set in last season, did not
see n crow again until the second day OF
March. One individual Tapped overhead,
| and there was another standing on yon cedar.
| Then the other black scouts arose from
the woods and filling the air with their
cars, wheeled of in "blackening train
toward the north. We are always glad to
meet this old acquaintance, and hear his
familiar voice notwithstanding the suspicious
character he seems to carry.
| A little later q party of these ullight one
morning on pine by the road, to discuss the
weather problem possibly and complain of
the bitter cold of the previous night, but the
food question was doubtless uppcrmost in
their minds. Whatever they believe, many
will tell you that the crow breaks the spell OF
winter. AT any rate they regard his pres
cncc as favorable sign and tire is the
significant number. Trusty messengers
then are these birds of the dark feather,
showing that the springing season is Mt hand,
or is this only an augurial relic de-
scended from the Chaldeans and Etrurians
of old?
1t is interesting to watch the behavior of
the crows when under the first influences of
spring, and it is not difficult matter to sec
when the circulation of the year is being
renewed. There is the warm cobalt sky and
the sun new body, it would seem, pouring
down its genial rays and casting dazzling
reflections from the snow, sending up the
steam, liquefyiDg the air, waking up the
squirrels, bringing forth the birds and en-
livening the farm fowls, and the crow shares
in the general activity. You hear his fire.
quent cawing and zee his ebon form sailing
across the fields with measured sweeps to
cluster of pines in the distance. Another
goes blowing the air overhead, steering for
some ncighboring point, and showing his
raggediprimarles,a he slowlyby flaps along,or
sweeps of suddenly as If the bearer of i'm
portant news The whole crow community
is in a hustle discussing the corn crop, pos
sibly, or transacting other important bust
ness.
The crow is usually thinking of bui lding
nest by the last of April, aud not many
days in May elapse before his plans are
matured and and his dwelling ready for
occupancy. Not over particular of locality
he usually selects site in an evergreen
grove where his bulky abode will be hid
from the world as much as possible. Ire
member seeing nest saddled to the lower
limb of an oak, but they commonly choose
point near the summit of some tall pine or
cedar and so well concealed by the foliage
it will often puzzle you to catch glimpse
of it from below.
lisa crows nest hard TO find? No,
not the nest, but to discover one with the
eggs, OF this seasons making is quite
another matter. So many of those you de-
tect and ascend to in the woods arc empty,
the ruins merely of some previous year, your
courage may fail at the right one, for it
takes an experienced eye to tell if that dark
bundle of sticks you can barely see in the
top OF this evergreen was recently collected
or is the foundation merely of an abandoned
tenement. II there are any dry leaves rolled
about it or peering over the brim, pass on to
the next, unless you wish to climb to a
squirrels lodge and not find the occupant at
home in the bargain.
In clearing in the woods carly in May
(thc Sth) we notice large nest in pine just
ahead. 1t has the air of habtalion about it.
Coming nearer you can see something black
projecting from the edge but this is not very
cNlucul anu Hity bc u iuES'l 40 Neii 10 !"
black feather. The tree is tall and mast
shaped with tuft of green boughs at the
top aud upon one of these rest this dark
cluster Of twigs. A tap on the trunk, how
ever, brings off q crow which removes all
doubt, thus furnishing the best sort of Cir
cumstautial evidence. She flies away
quietly and gives only few cars at II dis
lance. This nest contains four eggs and is n
striking piece of bird architecture, showing
rude but riastcrly touches, characteristic Of
the builder. 1t is deep and symmetrical
within, and large over as bushcl, composed
| externally of the coarse dry twigs of the
maple. Then there is layer of Garth and
moss, punk and stubble. Long roots of
witch grass and strips of grapevine bark
entertained compose the walls and rim
which are eight inches across and half as
deep. The lining is of moss and bark on
which lie the blush and greenish-colorc
eggs. hardly uniform in size but of the same
general cast, being notified and splashed
with different shades of olive and neutral
ints.
1t is still question with many if the crow
does not altogether render more good than
harm, but so long as his Partially for the
Seeding corn is well grounded, he may cy.
poet to suffer persecution at the hands of tho
farmer. 1t should be remembered, however,
that the crow is omnivorous, and that sprout-
Ing corn can form but small fraction Of
his food. Beetles and various other insects
carrion, small reptiles, -noxious or other.
wise, compose his varied diet. Then the
young crows demand insects and other yer.
min and it is well known what insatiate
appctites these Cabling, gray-cycd fellow!
possess.