Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-06-16
WHERE CROWS RoosT.



Colored Birds Congregate.
The first of these two rookeries is
situated about two miles east of Syra-
cuse, N. T., in q woods known rs
"Tamarack Swamp" and lying be-
tween the Central and West Shore
tracks. The second is situated in Ar
lington Cemetery at Washington. Both
rookcries are nearly equal in size, the
one at Syracuse covering about fifteen
acres and that at Arlington from ten
to twelve.
A visit to these roosts in the day
time is interesting in the extreme,
while another paid at dusk when the
birds are coming IN is even more. So
Shortly after daybreak the vast throng
Of black bestirs itself; first loud
clamor betokens that the birds are
| awake; then with shake or two they
launch forth in quest of the mornings
breakfast, Leaving singly, in pairs,
by dozens and in ilocks of hundreds,
each group wings its way to where the
previous days meals were secured, or
starts in search of new feeding
grounds After they are gone the
roost is Il sight indeed. On every
hand the trees and ground beneath are
literally covered with the excrcta Of
the birds, having much the appearance
of having been plcntifully bespattcred
with whitcWash The air is foul with
the odor mingled with that of the pu-
trefying bodies Of the dead ones that
here and there dot the snow, while
among the branches as well as on the
ground are numbers of individuals too
weak, emaciated, or otherwise disabled
to participate in the flight. These are
readily approached, and are often to
be caught in the hands.
A drive through the surrounding
country will now give glimpse of
their daily life during winter Any
where and everywhere they may be
seen, each in search of that which
alone will sustain life, but with the
usual frozen condition of the ground
this, as Il rule is difficult to obtain. Up
to about three O'Clock the birds are
busy feeding, and the average person
would hardly believe that within an
hour or even less these same birds will
be miles away, and in company with
tens of thousands of the same species.
Having traced them through their daily
wanderings, it is in order to visit the
roost again atnightfall and watch them
come in. At the hour above mentioned
they began to arrive either singly or in
ilocks, tarrying at times at some near
at-hand feeding grounds, but soon
seeking the vicinity of the roost.
Strangely enough, instead of repairing
at once to their nights resting place,
they gather in immense multitudes on
the surrounding hills; coming as they
do from all quarters of the country,
the numbers mcrease until the fields,
tho irens t-..t the s-,,aAs ARA !, uled,
with them. Bong after the sun has SET
they continue to arrive. The noise is
dcafcnng, and when at times they
rise and circle about in the
air it seems as if the heavens them
selves were about 10 fall. As
darkness begins to settle, first a few of
the bolder ones enter the rooSt. These
are followed by small punches of fifty
or so, and these in turn by other COM
panions intersperscd with stragglcrs.
suddenly, with a noise as of hurri-
cane, vast host arises and makes a
dive for the roost. These are closely
followed by another. and still another,
until finally the number on the hillsides
begin to show some sign of thinning
out.
As the darkness deepens they come
in any way; down they come pcll nell,
brushing past the face, almost flying
against one, alightng on the first
branch they strike against (for they
are now almost unable to see, ana il is
amusing to see hundreds hopping about
waiting for luck to throw branch III
their way), often within arms reach.
Every tree and branch seems packed
with them, and still they continue to
pour down, finding a roosting place
somewhere, and adding clamor to the
deafening babel already existing.
Finally all appear to have arrived, and
are busy settling themselves for the
night. Utter now but so much u II
syllable, and the entire army with re-
newed cries, and in the dircst confu-
sion, take wing and seek another part
of the woods, only to renew the per-
formance should the operation be re-
peated. | have never us yet remained
in a roost long enough to ascertain
whether or not the birds became abso-
lutely quiet. Scientific american.