The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
GROUNDING AND CROWS.
Bergen County Crows Smart. but no
Match for Bergen County Groundhors.

| ner8cn SOuntY SrO"b Smurts nut no
Match for bergen County GroundhoGs
There has been big flock OF crows hang
ing out in piece OF woods on my farm oil the
spring." said Farmer George Van Cleef Of
| Bergen county. n. j., and the other day
heard them making q big fuss in field near
the woods. They were all centred about Ger
tain spot In the field, and individual members
were darting UP and down and to and fro. all
the time using language that undoubtedly
would have been shocking If translated into
English. The way the crows were handling
themselves and jawing was indication enough
| that they had much more serious business on
| hand than usual.
II walked over to the fence on one
side Of the field. and discovered that
the cause OF all the fuss was an innocent look
ing grounding that had wandered from his
hole to crop the early clover In the field. What
the objection to his presence on the part OF the
crows was don't know. but that they were in
tent on ejeotinR him from the field there could
be no doubt The ground hogs burrow was on
piece Of elevated ground at one edge OF the
field, ana he was evidently seeking to demon
strate to the satisfaction OF the crows that he
meant no offence in being there by trying his
best to get out Of the field and back TO his own
homo. The crows apparently did not mean to
be propitiated by this effortof the groundhog
sharp beaks and claws. The progress OF the
groundhog homeward was consequently pain
full and slow. Occasionally, as he went. his
equanimity would be upset by some rarticu-
larry savage onslaught OF the crows. and then
he would turn and show fight As good luck
had IT. ne wasn't far from his l,oie. and by and
by he reached 1t, and he went In his front door
as II he had never been 80 glad to reach his
humble TSn s abode d before
Gaused great CONSERVATION among the crows.
II was some time before they seemed to be
been whisked out OF sight in the air. or whether
the bottom had dropped ont somewhere and
It, ist him IN By and by they apparently came to
gone into the hole at the end Of the field. for
t they few at it and pecked into It and swor9
down after a time and held solemn eonfab at
the mouth OF the groundhogs den. The result
old crows flew to the top Of the rail fence a few
i is irsm In the burrow and perched themselves
their ' FEEDING or what nS 0a @as
they had been doing When disturbed by the
tie q fence che tie 6 IhS two
watches rat hole. 1t was plain as the nose
on on my face. then, that they had been placed
how the affair would end, and 50 / remained
patiently to note further proceedings.
Twenty minutes passed, and then saw the
groundhog's head appear at the mouth Of his
rounngs and then came 6oldS~ out St t and sat-
erect In front of his house giving a comical !
ohu9E bs rs he did the TWO crows
and the entire colony came, flying toward |
were frantic, and n they had caught
Would maas ha work Of Df h% But fnSS S
lodged into the hole 80 quickly that he was out
e SI sGht before either 81 tue sentinel crows
noisy groups about the hole. but finally be-
came quiet Then they seemed to nut tneir
heads together In consultation. Now and then
rest would receive 1t with apparently aclul.
escent caws. After five minutes Of this mutual
agreement on plan OF action, and at once o set
vas vas nothing less than 70 m the grounding
to with a. will: They worked and they
worked and worked IN the course OF half an
iS they had plugged up tho hole as far rs
the entrance was closed as snug as could be-
put while that interesting work was going
Ths the 'aas g s
who had, made another exit on the opposite
side OF the knoll nifty feet from where the
and out Of thoir sight lie came to the he mouth So
and then stole, around the base Of the knoll
happened The iRsu Crows IS worked %in iadustFii
0asIy A. their supposed task Of fastening the
after the grounding, had come out at the
other side and gone back to the tieId. They
and congratulatory pow-wow over the clever
manner In which they had put the grounding
out Of the way. Then they, all rose up and
denly the leading CROW actually staggered in
the air and circled back in dazed sort Of way
to to the fence He had caught siGPt Of the
Instead OF being a sealed-up prisoner many
teet In the DEPTHS Of the earth. Crow after crow |