Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-20
A GREAT crows Roosr.
An Interesting Sight In the Vicinity Of
baltimore.

A short distance beyond the city linn
its on the line of the Baltimore and Po-
tomac railroad, an interesting sight is
witnessed by travellers in the late after
noon trains. About O'Clock in the
afternoon large numbers of crows, the
most striking objects in our wintry land
scape, 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 riv-
ers, and even upon the banks of the
Susquehanna. By dark all have re-
turned, and the low trees on both sides
of the railroad track are covered with
thousands and thousands OF these birds
This assembly of the crows is known as
roost, and has been in existence for
many years. changing each year accord
ing to the destruction of the trees. Now,
crows as well as other birds fly south
ward upon the approach of cold wealth
er, and it is said that whenever large
numbers remain here it is sign that
the winter will be mild. This year so
many more have remained that the pre-
sumption is either that the weather will
be unusually open, or the crows, who
are SO intelligent 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
sufficiently trained in thieving and rob-
berry to help support themselves. They
congregate at this time for mutual pro-
lection and maintenance
Il,a.r 49, 4.
which they are warned of the approach
of enemies, and their particular foe, the
great horned and bubo owl. This bird
dotes ON crow. Place before him a
plump fowl, mouse or blackbird,
which he would generally devoun then
bring to him 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 mortal er ny. Several
will dash at him and beat about him
with outspread wings. Driven to des-
peration he will fly away, and will inn
mediately be followed by black cloud
of tormentors, whose angry, noisy cav
ing will be heard when they are long
distance away. 1t is suggested in this
connection that farmers who are troub-
led by the visitatiOns 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 corn-fields, for where the
bubo is there will the crows be gathered
together. No, the crow will not be
frightened away by the odor of gunpow-
der. Small boys say .h;,t is why one
can not shoot crow. iSui it doesn't
require a very great while tor the crow,
who can, with his kinsman. he raven,
become SO well educated as TO talk and
learn to commit suicide by eating sui
phur matches, to discover that the man
down yonder carries an implement
which, if he can approach near enough,
he will point toward the flock; there
will be a flash. a curl of smoke. a re-
port, some black feathers will fiv into
the air, and down TO the ground will
tumble in ungraceful curves one or more
crows whose pilferings are now at an
end. So much for their self-prescrya-
ton.
As to their food crows may be said TO
be almost omniverous. In summer time
they will content themselves with eating
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 put TO secure food and
drink. Then they travel in large flocks,
levying upon barnyards, searching in
lets or creeks for dead fish or other oflal,
feasting upon some dad animal or
other carrion, and when very hungry
attacking disabled hare. Some lew
winters ago such Was the scarcity of
their food in tie country that they
whirled through The prlEuipai streets of
the city, and beating down the river
following the wake of the iccboat formed
black fringe upon the edges of the
newly plowcd ice. in search of drink
and food. Though the crow follows
civilization, driving the raven before it.
he is most cautious creature, and dis
plays great intelligence in GLIDING
snares or dangers of any kind For
several months the crows will b;de ut
their roost at night, flying away during
the day and returning ut evening in IA
straight line, from which they will
deyiatc only to aid one of their fellows.
They will go to almost any ends 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.
In the early spring the roost is desert
ed, and mating begins. Then each crow
selects certain region of which he is
sole monarch, and no other crow dare
trespaSs there unless summoned for as
sistance. People differ as to the balance
between the good and bad qualities of
the crow. While he may destroy the
eggs and young of smaller and useful
birds, and commit such dcpredations
upon the corn-ields rs to cause the hus-
bandman to 60 to great deal of trouble
in devising scare-crows yet he renders
service to the farmer in destroying grub
worms, moles, snakes, and noxious in
sects. His characteristics may be
summed up as follows: The crow is as
wise rs the serpent and rs harmless rs
the English sparrow.-Battins0re Sun.