The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05
STRANGE WAYS OF CROWS.
Interesting and Remarkable Facts
About an Abused Family of Birds.
A Place on the l., D. & S. Railroad Where
Hundreds of Thousands of Them Congre-
gate-HOw the Grow Helps Farmers.

AMUSED DiTu ID the crow, at least among IaFuiers
He is not a specially attractive bird il his SOM
bre, funera1-director dress, nor is ne I, be ad-
mired, either, in his walk or conversation His
rolling, low-comedy gait as he moves along the
corn rows does not at all comport with his snit
of conventional black, and it may be that this
also assists in bringing him into bad repute.
Every farmer and every farmers boy hates
the crow and all pathological crimes are
charged against him.
Some careful student OF orinthology pub
fishes, as matter for wonder, the statement that
the crow can count as high as nine, and that is
as high as he can get in mathematics. think
the crow do better than that believe him
to be bird Of usefulness and great sagacity.
At the same time l am aware that it requires
man with some of the stuff in him of which
martyrs are made to mako that assertion.
About Indianapolis there is only an occasional
specimen of this bird. They are more abundant
In southern Indiana and near the larger water
courses.
During the day time they are scattered about
the country, solitary, in pairs or in small focks.
At night their congregational instincts gather
Them in large focks. Upon the Wabash, lati
crows come from the west in the morning and,
following Horace Gresley's advice, go West in
the evening Following column of fifty, 100,
1000 or 100 600 crows in their westward journey,
they may be traced to point near Newman Sta
ton, on the l., d. & s. railroad where, as night
fall comes on, the sky seems filed with them.
The trees and ground are covered with them
til they can only be measured in eighty acre
lots. An inspection will satisfy the observer
that there are millions there. You will find
that, from area of at least 100 miles square,
the crows have come to this point 1t might al
most be called national assembly of crowdom.
By their associated action, by their bravery at
times 10 defense of each other, and especially by
their noisy commuuing together. it will be seen
that these birds have an intelligent Intercourse
with each other, and work together
for the common good. An examination of the
surrounding country shows that the crows come
not only from the east but from all points of the
com pass to this central point. In getting to this
congress, when a strong west wind prevails, the
tact of this awkward flyer is worth noticing 1t
Is sometimes very laughable. He will f1y close
to the ground taking advantage of the clumps
OF bushes and other protection from the wind.
In the morning. at daybreak, the rookery dis
solves and scarcely an individual will be left in
the Vicinity Oh the great assem- Dl10g place. Inc
younger and more active crows 60 to greater
distance from the rookery than the older ones
for their daily food
Years ago pork was packed at nearly all the
towns and villages on the Wabash. A consider
able portion of the hog was then thrown away
in what was called off-fall not being used as
now. On the first DAYS slaughtering possibly
two or three crows would be seen about At
night they would disappear. go to the great as
sembly and give information, and the next day
M fhnnc de Unrld ha
hand 70 feast upon the offerings of the pork
houses. During the winter months, when one
or two foraging crows found a carcass an
abundance of food, the next day would bring
great fiocks of the birds
"The people who live neighboring to the great
rookery find that the crows do no harm and do
not disturb them. Farmers occasionally claim
that crows pull up corn. If crow knows there
is a grub-worm under hill or stalk of corn, and
his keen eyes quick to take in all the indica-
tions. he may destroy the hill to get the worm,
but without the removal of this worm the stalk
would produce no grain. Instead of being pest
and injury to the farmer the crow is the agri
culturist's benefactor and protector The crow
has but one bad habit. He is fond of eggs and
will pick open the shells to eat them. He isn't
always particular about their marketable quail
ity, however.
i'Sometmes the grubworm is so abundant as
to present millions to the acre and to destroy
crops of corn and other tender-rooted yegeta-
ton. The grub will cut the roots of blue and
other grasses at depth of two two and
half inches below the surface so that it is totally
separated from below, and the injury is one that
may last for more than one year When this is
the case not only animals such as the opossum
and the polecat will travel for miles to this
gfublntested area, but crows will come in great
docks. For the grub is a great delicacy to him.
Once the portion of Edgar county, Illinois,
known Ashmore's Grove, was visited with
grub-worms in overwhelming numbers. The
crow family came when the feast was ready.
Rev. Ashmore assured me that q count as far as
practicable OF certain space on the column of
fight and computation for time for the remain.
der indicated the number of crows To be
between $50. 900 and 100000 The neighbor boys
thought it fine sport to drive the crows away
and took much delight in doing so. The crows
left, and the erubworms increased in number
until the production of this rich prairie was re-
duced from Atty bushels OF corn TO the acre
down to eight ten bushels It was resolved
to invite the crows back. and to protect them.
Food was placed out for the sable foragers.
They came back, and remained for years at this
point until sle grubs and other insects destruct-
i've to vegetation almost disappeared. The alb
sence of the crows cost that neghborhood nearly
half n million dollars. Now that region pro-
duces corn at the rate of from fifty TO sixty
bushels to the acre, and 1t would be difficult to
persuade the farmer OF twenty years ago that
the crow Is not his friend.
Besides this general convention of crows
there are during the summer and nesting pc
Rod small assembages, which might be called
district and county conventions A local rock
cry exists in the southeast part Of Montgomery
county, another is said to exist in Greene county
another on Coal creek, in Fountain county but
IN the winter, and outside of nesting duties
every night the tribe or nation assemblies at its
central point at Crab-apple Grove Illinois This
assembly is not occasional or of recent date. 1t
has been continuous since the white man first
came to this region. nearly hundred years ago.
There are other large rookeres One is west of
Shelbyville, Ill. I do not speak Of
crows in the South or in the East.
as know little about them
There Ia evidently form Of government among
crews and some have places of authority. In a
flock there are always some on guard ready to
give signal of approaching danger, and in flying
their fight appears to be directed by command.
recollect once seeing flock of crows homeward
bound late in the afternoon They were on an
AIRLINE to their place of rest, when suddenly the