The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-28
CROW CATCHING, JERSEY FASHION.
Contribution to Natural History on the
Faith OF New York Drummer.
New York Sum

Faith OF u New York Drummer.
New York SUM-
"The crows were cawing in the woods be
lind US when we left, but they soon quisted
down, and apparently lost all interest In
the episode that had worked them up to the
highest pitch Of excitement few minutes
before.
al kin wake 'em up agin in three SOC
ondS,' said the boy. IN let this fsller yell
littie.'
"The boy took his hand Off the crows gul.
let, and instantly the captive sent up q
series Of cries. Quick as a fash the nir be-
bind US was blackened with frantic crows
all shrieking and hallooing vehemontly.
They swooped around US and made heroo
darts at the boy, who quickly closed on the
captive crows windpipe and stopped his
voice Then the crows returned to the
woods, cawing.
SEQ what blame fools they ber said the
youngster. 'They'm cunnin', but they hain't
smart
"'Now. boss, he continued, I'll show
ye how this feller kin clutch his brethring.
Hold him. Don't let him holler, less ye
want to fight that hull woods full o. crows
"The boy put the crow in my hands.
Then he cut two stout crotched sticks, and,
taking a small piece Of some kind OF springy
wood. split 1t an inch or two up, 80 that he
could pull the split portion half an inch
apart, the pieces closing quickly together
whom released. To the split stick hs tied n
string. Then he led me to a distant part Of
the field, a quarter Of mile away from the
woodS He slipped the split stick over tho
crows beak, 80 he won't holler fore l want
him TO- he remarked. Then hs laid the
bird on its back, and, spreading out Its
wings, pinned the crow down firmly to tho
ground by driving . crotched stick over
each wing, near the middle This done. the
bird was helpless to move, except that 1t
could clutch about with its strong feet
When all wns In readiness the boy walked
Off rod or two and hid in tho bushes, tell.
ing me TO do the same. When we were both
out of sight the little Jersey man gave the
string jerk AMI pulled the split stick OF OF
the birds beak
"'Now holler, blame yer exclaimed the
boy.
"And that crow did holler, and, just as
had been the case before, on there came the
colony of crows, as wild, fierce. frantic, and
noisy as ever. They circled above the
captive bird, and finally number Of them
dropped down to see what aile1 him. One
lit on the struggling bird, and was instantly
clutchei by the captive, and held tightly in
cry.
"'He's got himr shouted the little villain
by my side. Come on an let's get him.
"The boy ran out, and the flock Of crows
swooped ami cawed, and darted all around
him. He gra bbed the newly captured crow.
which was held tightly in the claws Of the
decoy, and with two or three mastery
twirls wrung its neck Then he
grabbed the other one by the gullet
and stopped its cries, whereupon the
flock of crows retired again, apparently be-
lieving that they had done their duty. Sat
isfied that the cunning little Jerseyman
could do all that he said he could, l let him
off from making the crow clutch any more
of its kind. Then he released tho crow
that he had clutched himself, and II few
away and joined the others In the woods as
though nothing out Of the usual way in his
everyday experience had occurred. As we
walked back to the village my canny COM
panion remarked:
Say, boss, IL ye ever want any more
clutchin' done, all ye got to do Is to com,
up here AM asst for Grimessy'
$50 I say that things never heard Of
before keep happening right along, for I'll
swear ! never hoard of clutchin' crows' be-