The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-05-01
Iellanenlls.
A GREAT CROW ROOST.
Million Corn SteaIers Canture the
Woods and AstOund the Natives.


BUsHKILL, Pa, April 14.-As Simon
Traue, a farmer, living near High Knob, in
the south western part of this county, was
chopping in the woods about half way up
the mountain on Thursday last, he was at
tracted ky flock Of crows which appeared
suddenly from southern direction and
alighted III high tree a hundred wards
away. After great deal of loud cawing the
flock arose and flew away in the direction
from which they had come. Trauel then
went on with his work.
About the middle of the afternoon, an hour
after the crows had taken their departure, he
happened to look southwark, and saw that
the sky was black with some approaching
object. In few minutes he discovered that
it was an immense flock of crows which
soon swept into the Knob woods, and with
thunder of wings and deafening clamor of
throats settled down into the trees, whose
leafless branches became blackened with the
birds from top to bottom. For three hours
flock after flock of crows poured into the
woods, until the side ofthe hill for space of
more than forty acres was covered so thick
ly with them that big branches We're split
from the trees beneath their weight II was
nearly dark when the last flock found rest
ing place in the woods, and midnight came
belOio quiot was restored in the vast congre-
cation.
The crows remained in the woods until
last Monday. Early every morning focks
would start out from the colony, taking diff
ferent directions, and after being absent for
an hour or so would one after another re-
turn. Their arrival was greeted with the
widest commotion all through the woods,
vociferous cawing and tapping of wings be-
ing kept up for some minutes. Then other
tlocks would go out, to be met with the same
hubbub on their return. The news of the
great crow roost spread around the thinly
settled region, and people came from far and
near to see and hear the crows.
On Saturday number of the natives
agreed that it would DO good thing, now
that they had apparently all the crows there
were in the country within reach, TO make
nightly raids on them, and thus save great
deal of future loss TO cornfields. Accordingly
party of seven, armed with guns and long
poles, and some of them carrying torches, be-
gan the work of destruction. They reached
the woods where the crows were sleeping
about 0 o'clock. The torches were lit, and
the raiders entered the woods. They had
not proceeded far when they were greeted
with yell of defiance from 100000 crows.
The yell was followed by hundreds of the
birds boldly attacking the invading party,
using both beak and claw with such effect
that the surprised backwoodsmen were fore
ed to flee to save themselves. They were fol-
lowed to the edge of the woods by flocks of
Infatuated crows, and not shot was fired nor
a crow killed.
On Monday morning for the first time not
| flock left the woods, but all was hustle,
commotion and noise among the crows. The
entire colony seemed to be in motion among
| the trees. Crows were darling in all direc-
| tions, utterng peculiar cries, and evidently
anxious to be everywhere at once. Just be.
fore noon matters became comparatively
quiet, and then small locks began to emerge
from the woods, going in all directions. This
exodus continued until late in the afternoon,
when every crow had disappeared, and none
came back. The scene in the piece ofwoods
they had occupied is described as remarkable
Every tree had one or more branches torn
from it, and they lay piled about on the
ground as if the trees had been swept by a
whirlwind. Every foot of ground was torn
up, plainly by the crows searching for insects
| for food.
"Every spring." says an old citizen of this
village, "the crows, like wild pigeons, gather
somewhere about the country to do theiI
counting and mate This spring they hap
pened to select the High Knob, because the
scouts they sent out TO get place for them
liked it, and guided the rest to the spot AS
the love-making progresses flocks of crows
go out to select good nesting and foraging
places. They come back to the roost and re
port, and grand discussion is had on that
After these matters are all settled, and every
crow is mated, they form into flocks of TWEEN
ty or 50, and, after they bid each other good
by, leave for the respective nesting places Sc
lected for them. Last Monday forenoon
when there was such a commotion among
the crows on the Knob, they were taking
leave of one another. There will probably
never be another crow roost in this part o
the country. Next year it may be in Ken
tucky"