, 1886-01-28
4 cRoMs, Roogr nee aALrIMong.


ar Interesting sight to Travolors-A
Perfect sentry system Habits
A short distance beyondt the city limits
on the Baltimore & Potomac railroad.
an interesting sight is witnessed by
travellers in the late afternoon trains.
About 4 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 to the
Patapso river, while others have spent
the day near the hcadwaters 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
sembly Of the crows is known as a roost,
and has been in existence for many
years, changing each year according to
the destruction Of the trees. Now,
crows rs well rs other birds fly south
ward upon the approach Of cold weather,
and it is said that whenever large num-
bers remain here II is a sign that the
winter will be mild. This year so many
more have remained hat the presump-
ton is either that the weather will be
unusually open, or the crows who are
80 intelligent in other matters, are fail
ures IA weather prophets. Crows resort
To their winter roosts in the early fall,
as soon as their young have been suffic-
iently trained in thieving and robbery
10 help support themselves. They con-
gregate at this time for mutual pro-
lection and maintenance.
They nave n 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 before him IA
plump fowl, n mouse or n blackbird,
which he would generally devour. then
bring 10 him a scrawny crow, and he
will turn from the other food and seize
it with avidity. Consequently, when
crows light upon the bubo, they sum
mon their fellows and apparently be-
come oblivious to everything else, so
great is their rage at having within their
power a mortal enemy. Several will
dash at him and beat about him-with
outspread wings. Driven TO desperation
he will fly away. and will Immediately
be followed by a black cloud of tor
mentors, whose angry, noisy cawing will
be heard when they are a long distance
away.
As to their food crows mag be said to
be almost omnivorous. In summer time
they will content themselves with eat
ing the Egg of smaller birds, smaller
bird themselves, young chickens, grain,
mice etc. But when ice and snow have
bound everything almost in nature, the
crows are hard put to secure food and
drink. Then they travel in large fiocks,
levying upon b%arnyards, searching in
lets or creeks for dead fish or other offal,
feanting upon some dead animal or other
c%arrion, and when very hungry attack
ing a 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 n black fringe upon the
edges of the newly plowed ice in search
of drink and food.
Though the crow follows civilization,
driving the " before it, he is a most
cautious creature, and displays great in
telligence 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 go to al
most any end to do this, and the large
open field in Druid Hill park has been
seen black with them Tapping their
wings and uttering their cries over
the mishap to one Of them.-Baltimore
SIM