The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24
THE WISEAND CROW
A Race of Birds Common to This
Country.
More Good Points About Him Than
He Gets Credit FORA Good Pet
When Demonstrated, Hut q Prince
of Feathcred Pirates-His Aristo-
cratic Carriage on Parade.

There is, to many people, certain fas-
, cinatlon in the 'caw-eaw" OF the crow
as that dark-plumed bird flies over woods
and fields and takes no pains to leave his
presence unknown to the toiIers on the
dull earth beneath him The crow is a
wise bird and generally knows what is
going on in the neighborhood Of his habi-
tat. Cities are no terror to him. Evil
IDENTIFY he likes the rumbling OF the rails
and the shrieks of locomotives. and some
folks believe he endeavors to emulate the
sounds. At any rate, he makes an effort
to do so, and in addition thereto makes
efforts more or less successful to talk
when he is captured from his nest and
thoroughly domesticated. Corvus Ameri-
canus is his pathological cognomen, ard
he is patriotic from his talons up, being
strictly North American.
Il student of this satanic-hued bird, in
recent description of his habits and
sense, writes that one of the prettiest
sights that he had ever seen was that of
very large flock OF crows working upon
grubs in meadow south of Indianapolis.
They alighted on one side of the field and
then marched forward in a line in mill
tary precision, the line extending across
the field. They seemed to have leaders,
who directed their forward march, and 1t
was wonderful to notice how busy they
were. They worked the field and then
flew away in a body, perhaps to another
meadow where they devoured innumera-
bic quantities of mice. bugs. caterpiiIars.
md orrtYbx nd ahr 70,
extent protected the farmers meadows
Truly, therefore, it would seem that
though he is a thief Of corn and anything
else to his liking that he can steal. he
partially at least pays for his wickedness-
Crows mate early in April, but rarely
ever are found in isolated pairs. At ono
farm there must be at least a dozen pairs
Of them that nest in the thicket The old
crows are very attentive to their young.
and noisy time it is when they are feed
ing them.
About the end of June the young are
brought together In fiocks. It is then
that the training of the young commences.
and they are taught the wicked ways and
dangers OF the world. In this work gen.
orally there is a leader About Septem
Der the smaller fiocks, at night time.
gather into large ones. and until the COM
ing March they have "roosts' to which
they go every night. Some OF these roosts
are estimated to have as many as 100000
birds in them.
Mr.. John Burroughs says: The crows
are abundant here (Washington) all win
ter. but are not very noticeable except as
they pass high in air to and from their
winter quarters in the Virginia woods.
Early in the morning. as soon as 1t Is light
enough TO discern them. there they are
streaming eastward across the sky, now
In loose. scattered focks, now In thick,
dense masses, then singly and in pairs
or triplets. but all setting in one direc
ton probably TO the waters Of eastern
Maryland. Toward night they begin to
return, flying in the same manner, and
directing their course to the woods and
heights on the Potomac. west OF the city.
In spring these diurnal mass movements
cease; the clans break up. the rookery IS
abandoned. and the birds scatter broadcas:
over the land This seams to be the COURSE
everywhere pursued
The Corvus Americans is of a uniform.
blue black. and the male and female ara
alike From tip to tip it is about ght-
cen inches long Its range extends
throughout North America. and 1t is
summer and winter resident. II breed:
throughout its range. and it nests il
trees Its nest is constructed OF sticks.
grapevine and cedar bark. lined wits
coarse hair wool. moss, and gr1ss. Inc
nest is large. and has ragged appear
ance We have them with us in numbers
every year. and are glad of the fact
Their cav is not musical. but it ADDS
diversity, and their fight from one patch
of woods to another is interesting. Tlen.
their perambulating over our fields COM
mands attention, their walk being reg
ular and their carriage stately.
The crow when he is domeSticated IS a
great pet but at the same time he IS
lying. stealing, mischievous pet Ono
mocking bird or yellow wild canary in
household is Of more account than sew
eral colonies of crows.