The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-04
A CROWS RoOST NEAR BALTIMORE.
An Interesting Sight to Travelars-A
Perfect Sentry System-Habits.

An Interesting Sight to Travelars-A
Perfect Sentry system-Habits'
a short distance beyond the city limits
on the Baltimore & Potomac railroad,
an interesting sight is witnessed by
travellers in the late afternoon trains.
About o'clock in the afternoon large
numbers of crows. the most striking
objects in our wintry landscape, begin
to congregate from various parts OF the
country. Some have been down tc tile
Patapso river, while others have spent
the day near the headwaters OF the
Back, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers, and
even upon the banks of the Susque-
hanna. By dark all have returned, and
the low trees on both sides OF the rail-
road track are covered with thousands
and thousands of these birds. This as
Gembly of the crows is known as roost'
and has been in existence for many
years, changing each year according 10
the destruction Of the trees. Nows
crows as well as other birds fly south
ward upon the approach OF cold weather.
and i. is said that whenever large num-
bers remain here it is a sign that the
winter will be mild This year so oi1nany
more have remained that the presump-
ton is either that the weather will be
unusually open, or the crows, VINO are
SO intelligent in other matters, are fall
ures as weather prophets. Crows resort
to their winter roosts in the early fal,
as soon as their young have been suttlc.
iently trained in thieving and robbery
to help support Themselves They con-
pregate at this time for mutual pro-
lection and maintenance.
They have perfect sentry System by
which they are warned Of the approach
of enemies, and their particular foe, the
great horned or bubo owl. This bird
dotes on crow. Place bc;ur, him
plump fowl, a mouse or & Glackblrd,
which he would generally devour, then
bring to him scrawny crow, ana ne
will turn from the other food and seize
! it with avidity. Consequently, when
crows light upon the bGDo, they sum-
mon their fellows and apparently be-
come ohlivious to everything else, SO
great is their rage at having within their
power mortal enemy. Several VIII
dash at him and beat about him with
outspread wings. Driven to desperation
he will fly away, and will Immediately
be followed by black cloud of tor
mentors. whose angry, noisy cawing will
be heard when they are long distance
away.
AS to their food crows may be said to
be almost onlnivoror1s. In summer time
they will content themselves with eat
ing the eggs of smaller birds, smaller
bird themselves, young chickens. grain,
mice etc. But when ice and snow have
bound everything almost in nature, tine
Crows are hard put to secure food and
drink. Then they travel in large focks,
| levyine upon barnyards, searching in
let's or creeks for dead fish or othtr rtfal,
feasting upon some dead animal .: ether
carrion, and when very hungry attack
inc disabled hare. Some few winters
ago such was the scarcity of their food
in the country that they whirled through
! the street of the city, and beating down
the river following the wake OF the ice
boat formed black fringe upon the
edges of the newly plowed ice in search
of drink and food.
Though the crow follows civilization,
driving the raven before it, he is Z most
cautious creature, and displays great in
tellgence in eluding snares or dangers
of any kind For several months the
crows will bide at their roost at night,
flying away during the day and return
ing at evening in a straight line, from
which they will deviate only to aid one
of their fellows. They will 60 to al
most any ends to do this, and the large
open field in Druid Hill park has been
seen black with them Tapping their
| winps and utterinp their cries over