Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06


have dispersed in every direction throughout
the surrounding country.
To great many their destination is prob
ZEN, as generally they are flying long after
dusk. To those who are accustomed to drive
IN the vicinity Of Fort Myer and Arlington the
problem is in a measure solved. for here they
NAV be seen gathering on the hillsides from all
quarters. Even with this part of the problem
at rest very few, think, are aware of the
actual circumstances attending the gathering
and of the fact that Arlington cemetery is the
Mecca to which this sable throng nightly re-
Sorts
There many curious and interesting facts
still unrecOrded concerning even our COM
monest and best-knOwn birds and while it is
fact well known TO ornithologists that during
the winter crows congregate at night in vast
numbers to roost, it appears not to be SO gen
orally known as one might suppose.
THE ARLINGTON CROW RoOsT-
Arlington cemetery is one of the most noted
crow roOsts in the United States and one of the
largest on the Atlantic coast. and while nearly
all are accustomed to look at 1t from one
point Of view-the resting place of the nations
dead-a visit paid at dusk. and from entirely
different point of view, will, trust, prove in
teresting to some.
Within the past few years much has been
written concerning this notorious cornpuller;
but until recently little or nothing has ap-
pea-ed pertaining to the roostlng place of one
ure to visit two rookeries and to observe closely
the birds composing it, both at the roost. where
they congregate at night to seek rest and pro-
lection in each other company, and many
miles away from it. and under nearly all circum-
stances. The first of these Is situated about
two miles east of Syracuse. y. Y, in locality
known ''Tamsrack swamp" This swamp,
once extensive, has been cut down to n narrow
strip. not exceeding SIX hundred yards IN width
by one and a half miles long, hemmed In on
the OrOfh and sOufh nv hills and has becop1p
what Is known as dry swamp, composed OF
naples. pines. beech. birch. tamarack and oaks.
Midway In this strip Is a stretch of young
pines. averaging twelve feet in height, and this
spot. in preference TO tie more denseiy wooded
portion. has been chosen as the winter home of
the crows. Arlington is too well known to re-
quire any description
LIVELY IN THE MORNING..
visit TO these roosts in the daytime is e1-
tremely interesting. but one paid at dusk when
the birds coming in, is not only interesting
but exciting. Shortly after the first break of
day 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
hocks of hundreds and thousands. each group
wings its way to where the previous days meals
were secured or starts in search of new feeding
grounds. Alter they gone the roost is a
sight Inleed- On every hand the trees and
ground beneath are literally covered with the
droPpings of the birds. having much the ap-
pesranee OF having been plentiiUlly despatched
with whitewash- The air Is foul with the odor
mingled with that of the putrefying bodies of
the dead birds that here and there dot the
ground, while among the branches as well as
on the ground. are numbers OF individuals too
weak. emacIated or otherwise disabled to par
ticlpate In the morning flight. These are
readily approached and are often to be caught
in the hands
THEIR DAILY LIFE.
drive through the surrounding country
viii now give a glimpse of their daily life
throughout the winter. Anywhere and every-
where thsy NAV be seen in search of that which
sustains life, but with the usual frozen condi-
uon OF tie ground this rule Is difficult to
obtain. Along the river and streams they NAV
be seen walking on the ice IN search of a pos
sible dead hsh or stray mussel, breaking
through the frozen structure itself where not
too thick IN order to get at the soft, unfrozen
mud beneath. and in many places the surface
for a considerable area resembles the land more
than the ice. from the quantities of this mate
rial thrown out. Here they of course secure
considerable vegetable matter, mingled with
an occasional shell fish. but the supply is poor
at best and they generally have hard scrape
Of 1t through the winter. Az this season of the
year there Is scarcely spot unvisited by them
and the distance travelled in going TO and from
their IeecIng grounds Is surprising. have
seen UT Instance OF some twenty miles
from the ANY. high In the air. and moving
steadily IN the direction OF the roost and have
no Idea how far they may have come before
observed
BEGINSISG TO RETURN.
Up to about o'clock the birds are busy feed
Ing, and the passer-by 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 their fellows. About this
few, who hy away just over the tree tops calling
loudly. as II 20 induce the rest who still tarry
TO follow These too soon depart and by 4
O'Clock or half-past the sky Is filed with the
host en- route for the rendezvous
An IDEA can best be gained now Of the count
less numbers that nightly resort 20 this place.
Tor although II Is obviously npOssible to attain
anything like accuracy . 10 the numbers we
know that at any given station hundreds and
thousands pass over our heads until II seems as
Il every crow in the country was passing be-
fore our eyes; but a station IN an exactly oppo-
site direction the next CAV Will reveal a like
number. and another the next dav the same.
until every point of the compass has been COW
cred As they return every night IN the same
direction II Will of course be evident that the
same Hooks are not observed twice and what an
enormous throns must be gathered together at
the rOOkery-
Having now traced our birds through their
daily wAndsrlngs II L. in order TO visit the roost
a. Elghiiail and watch them come IN. We must
be there before dusk. and have but to take our
stand IN the center Of the place. close beside
some tree, IN order to avoid observation.
COMING BACK IN CLOUDS
Al about oelocA they began to arrive singly
AND IN roeks, tarrying at times at some neigh
boring IeedinS ground, but some seeking the
vicinity OF the roOst- Strangely enough in
stead Of repairing at once To their nights rest
II g place, they gather in immense multitudes
on the surrounding hills Coming. as they do,
from a.! parts OF the country. the number in
creases Until the fields. the trees and the pines
are covered with them Long after the sun
has 'set thes Continue to arrive. The
noise IS dedfening. and when at times
they rise and circle about in the air il seems as
II the very heavens were about TO fall As dark
ness settles a few Of the holder ones enter the
roost, these are followed b. small punches OF
nfty or hundred and these in turn BY others
interpreted with stragglers. Suddenly, with a
noise as OF a mighty hurricane vast hos,
arises and makes dive for the roost This ia
closely followed by another. and another. and
sui another, until finally the numbers ON the
Liilsides begin to show some signs of thinning
out As the darkness deepens thew come in
any way; pel nell, brushing past the face. al
most flying against Us and ghting on the firs,
branch they strike against II Is so DARK the
can SCARCELY see, and II Is amusing to see them
hopping about waiting for a chance to throw a
branch IN their way. Every tree and bush is
10 w. whAWW0