Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15
TRICKS OF THE CROW.
He Is the Most Cunning Old Rascal
That Wears Feathers.
CONFIRMED GLUTTON AND THIEF.
He Hss a Judicial System and Executes
Offending Brothers.
A FUE-PROV0KER In THE HOUSEHOLD
0NFIRMED GLUTTON AND THIEF.
A FUH-PR0YOKER In THE HOUSEHOLD
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. l

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.I
Even In these bleak days of March. before
robin redbreast and the rest of the earl
spring warblers have returned from their
tour in the South, you can find, almost any
where in the country, one of the most inter-
esting of all feathered creatures. In addi-
tion to a talking aptitude second only to the
parrot, it is the most cunning and tricky Of
all birds. 1t is our familiar dusky friend
the crow. and if you prefer the more poetical
name you may call it the raven, for there is
only slight ornithological difference be-
tween corvus Americans and corvus core.
There is no harder bird IN the world. and
none whose range of climate Is wider. The
crow is found in every degree of latitude,
from the equator to near the polar circles,
and although there are some differences of
species, be is everywhere the same cunning
old rascal, disguised in manner of dignity
and sedateness BETTING parson. As he
lives everywhere, it is perhaps not so
strange that he seems to think he owns the
earth. Anyway. he is q born combination
of pirate and bandit, for he will steal clans
on the seashore, kill and eat young squirrels
on a mountain top, and sneakingly suck
eggs of any kind whenever be gets the
chance.
A Glutton and a Long Liver.
Some wise physicians tell US that excessive
eating is detrimental to health, and they are
proba bly, right, but if this statement should
be uttered in the presence of an accom-
plished old crow it would probably provoke
a knowing twinkle in his eye. Gluttony
and longevity seem to be on the best of
terms in the crow family. A hungry gamin
at a Christmas dinner will eat until he is
"too full for utterance," but crow has
been known to feed until it dropped dead.
And yet there are reliable accounts of crows
equaling the most venerable parrots IN
longevity, living to be 7S and even 100
years old.
In the wild state the crow terrorizes
nearly all other birds. In the early spring,
when they build their nests in the tops Of
high trees, the crows will tolerate nothing
else of featherrd kind near them. Their
desire for exclusiYeness is so marked that an
old pair will even drive their own
youngsters from home just as soon as they
are big enough to shift for themselves aud
earn their own living. A naturalist, who
visited the Western Islands, says that on
three of the smaller islands he found no
birds excepting a pair of crows on each.
The crows had "pre-empted," the islands, to
use the settlers term, and they would brook
no encroachmenr from other birds.
The Crows judicial System.
But that feature of crow life that we
might call the judiciary system has inter-
ested ornithologists more than anything
else. There seems to be no doubt that crows
have q judicial system for tbs trial and
punishment of culprits. According to the
accounts of reputable observers the crow
courts are conducted something after this
fashion: A solemn conclave of old croakers
is held on tree; crest-fallen prisoner is
among them. Three or four old fellows,
probably crow lawyers, will jabber away for
while and then there will be an apparent
consultation of the whole flock, sitting as a
jury. If the verdict be against the prisoner
he Is sentenced to death and turned over to
the eIecutioners who peck the life out Of
him.
In his domesticated state the crow is a
feathered anomaly. It can be trained to
catch other birds, TO carry small parcels and
to do all sorts of amHsing tricks, in ad-
dition to such lngual Accomplishments as
distinguish the parrot. Goldsmith, the
naturalist, SAYS: 81 have heard a raven
sing, with great distinetness, accuracy and
humor, the whole Of popular song" the
same author, while characterizing the bird
as a SlQLlon Oy nature ana a thief 0Y
habit, recognizes his humor by saying: "I
have seen one that while amusing himself
with poodle dog, and unable to keep pace
with his four-footed playfellow, would seize
him with lock of hair and hold on
tenaciously, while the dog was csreering at
full gallop."
Steals Anything and Everything.
The domesticated crow, in fact, Ii black
of fun and rascality. He will
play all sorts of pranks on dogs, cats and
poultry, and he will steal anything that he
is strong enough to lug away to the nook or
,revice where he conceals his property,
Like the born pilferer that he Is, he doesn's
,onfine his thefts to what be wants to eat,
nor to what he can possibly utilize in any
Eav. He seems to have a special weakness
'or such valuable things as jewelry, silver
ware and metallic money. Many person
has been suspected, and even arrested, for
hefIs committed by the demure but crafty
md thievish pet crow.
The superstition that the crow is bird OF
vii omen is hardly worth considering in
,ur day. 1t probably had its origin in the
association of the birds funersal color with
he weird croak that it often makes at night,
No, the crow is not half bad as he has
,een painted. He will undoubtedly steal
he farmers corn, but he really earns more
han the value of the corn by his consump-
ion of destructive bugs and worms. As for
he tame crow. the worst you can rightfullv
ay of him is that he is just the cunningest
Id rascal you ever saw, j. II. WEBB.