The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1886-09-25
THE TRIBUNE.
A CROWS RoosT NEAR BALTIMORE.

An Interesting sight to Travelers-A
Perfect Sentry systsm-Habits.
A short distance beyond the city limits
on tho 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 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-
o track M 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 as well as other birds fly south.
ward upon the approach of cold weather,
and 1t is said that whenever large num-
bers remain here it is a sign that the
winter will be mild. This year SO many
more have remained that the presump-
ton is either that the weather will be
unusually open, or the crows, who are
30 intelligent in other. matters, are fail
ures as weather prophets. Crows resort
to their winter roosts in the early fall,
as soon as their young have been sufic-
iently trained In thieving and robbery
to help support themselves. They con-
<orof ID Ill H.
lection and maintenance.
They have a 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 a
plump fowl, q mouse OF a blackbird,
which he would generally devour, then I
BRING to him a scrawny crow, and he
will u from the other food and seize
it with avidity. Consequently, when y
light upon the bubo, they sum
mon their fellows and apparently be- ,,
oblivious to everything else, so Y
great is their rage at having within their +.
power a mortal enemy. Several will +
lash at him and beat about him with m
'utspread wings. Driven to desperation y
- oVa uLo Will luliutQldl6lY ~
70 ollowed by a black cloud of tor 8
mentors, whose angry, noisy cawing will @
'e heard when they are a long distance N
way. "
AS to their food crows may be said to .
almost omnivorous. In summer time y
hey will content themselves with eat n
'g the eggs of smaller birds, smaller =
ird themselves, young chickens, grain, III
lice etc. But when ice and snow have
ound everything almost in nature, the 8
rows are hard put to secure food and =
rink. Then they travel in large focks, 3
vy1ng upon barnyards, searching in o
ts or creeks for lead fish or other offal.
asting upon some dead animal or other
'rrion, and when very hungry attack 8
6 a disabled hare. Some few winters p
such was the scarcity of their food *
the country that they whirled through
9 street OF the city, and beating down v,
AAsSt ioiio"HlS the WHkeO OF The Ice Hack
at formed a black fringe upon the hide
ges OF the newly plowed ice in search
drink and food. a.
Though the crow follows civilization, sttsn
wing the raven before it, he is a most -
ltious creature, and displays great in
lgence in ending snares or dangers
any kind. For several months the
WIS will bide at their roost at night,
ng away during the day and return
at evening in a straight line, from N
lch they will deviate only to aid one :
heir fellows. They will go 10 al
1t any ends to do this, and the large
n field in Druid Hill park has been
black with them Tapping their CAL.
gs and uttering their cries over
mishap to n of them.-Baltimore s
!.