Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-01-15
Something About Crows.

A short distance beyond the city limits
ON The line of the Baltimore and Poto-
mac Railroad an interesting sight Is
witnessed by travellers in the late alter
noon trains. About o'clock in the af-
ternoon large numbers of crows, the
most striking objects in our wintry land
scape, begin to cougregate from all
parts of the country. Some have been
down the PatapscO river, while Others
have spent the day near the headwaters
of the Back, Bush and Gunpowder riv-
ers, aud even upon the banks of the Sus-
uuehanna. BY dark all have returned,
and the low trees OH both sides of the
railroad track are covered with thous-
al,ds and thousands of these birds. This
assembly of crows is known as a roost,
and has been I'm existence for many
wears, changing each year according to
the destruction Of the trees. Now, crows
as well as other birds fly southwark
upon the approach of cold weather, and
it is said that, whenever large numbers
remain here, it is a sign that the winter
will be mild. This year so many more
have remained that the presumption Is
either that the weather will be unusu-
ally open, or that crows, who are SO In
telligent in other matters, are failures
as weather prophets. Crows resort to
their winter roost in the early fall as
soon as their young have been sufficient
" trained in thieving and robbery TO
help support themselves. They congre-
gate at this time for mutual protection
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 before him a
plump fowl, mouse or blackbird,
which he would generally devour; then
bring him a scrawny crow, and he will
turn from the other food and seize 1t
with avidity. Consequently, when
crows light upon the Bubo, they sum-
mon their fellows and apparently be-
come utterly 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 outspresd wings. Driven to
desperation he will fly away, and will
Immediately be followed by a black
cloud Of tormentors, whose angry noisy
cawing will be heard when they are
long distance away. Ii is suggested IN
this connection that farmers who are
troubled BY the visitation Of crows
should catch Bubo owl and tie him In
some wood. Then lying in concealment
with their guns, they would in short
time be able to play great havoc among
the pests of the cornfields, fo- where
the Bubo is, there will the crows be
gathered together. No, the crow will
not be frightened away by the odOr Of
gunpowder. Small boys say that IS
why one cannot shoot a crow. But II
doesn't require very great while for
the crow, who can, with his kiDsman.
the raven, become so well educated rs
to talk and learn 10 commit suicide By
eating sulphur matches, to discover that
the man down yonder carries All imple-
ment which, il can approach near
enough. he will point towards the flock !;
there will be fash, a curl Of smoke,
a report, some black feathers will fly
into the air. and down 70 the ground
will tumble in ungraceful curves one or
more crows whose pilferings are at an
end. So much for self-preseryation.
As to their food, crows may oe said 70
be almost mniverous. In summertime
they will content themselves with eat
ing the eggs OF smaller birds, smaller
birds themselves, young chickens, grain,
mice, etc. But when ice and snow have
bound everything almost in nature, the
crows are hard pu. to secure food and
drink. Then they travel in large focks,
leyying upon barnyards, searching in
lets and creeks for dead fish or other
offal, feasting upon some dead animal
or other carrion, and when very hungry
attacking disabled hare. Some few
winters ago such was the scarcity ol
their food In the country that they