The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-21

very clever fellow. He has Investi-
gated many tales Of his powers Of
mimicry and his ability to adopt the
tactics Of other birds such as those OF
seagulls in fishing. He has collected
the record Of some of the tricks which
crows are reputed to play. Imita-
lions Of cuckoos and owls, and the
perfect reproduction of the whining
of a young puppy are among these
limitations. The distant barking of
dogs. the squawking of hens and the
efforts Of a young cockerel to crow
are credited to crows in reports COM
ing from New Hampshire. Another
crow honked like a goose, while still
another reproduced the drumming
noise OF the woodpecker. Even when
the crow is not initiating any other
bird. he makes a variety of noises
of his own. it is pointed out, and, in
the love season, can boast some very
melodious notes.
Throughout southern New England,
It is shown, it is no uncommon thing
TO see three crows about one nest.
and in one case at least it is re-
corded that three crows were actually
observed feeding the young in one
nest. This was III Fairfield, Conn,
in 1920. Last year three Boston crows
played up and down Commonwealth
Ave. with sticks in their beakS for
a week before they decided Just where
TO build. The three cooperated IL the
building Of the nest. two often work
ing In the nest while a third stood
by as inspector. the third doing a
shift of his own, while the other two
went off. When the eggs were de-
posted one assumed the duties of in
cubation, while the other two came
and went. Whether this was big
amy, polygamy or polyandry, depo-
nent saith not" says Mr.. Torbush.
Young Crow a Big Eater
The young crow eats continually, or
almost continually, and, in the little
space OF time between. he devotes en-
tirely to mischief Besides general
thieving of small trinkets and miscel-
laneous objects, he plays many
pranks. There are tales Of tame
crows stealing the masters pipes and
hiding them in the woodpile; of a crow
who pulled up all the plants in the
garden beds and laid them out neatly
along the rows. Another pecked at the
bare legs OF children. Another learned
by observation what happened when
the old hen cackled and soon the eggs
disappeared, with Mr.. Crow lending
them wings.
No less than ten tame crows are re-
corded who learned to distinctly pro-
nounce words. One said Fired" and
father and mother" also he learned
to call the COWS. BOSS, boss, boss!'
The late Nelson r. Wood, taxiderlnist
at the National Museum at Washing
ton. D. c., Is reported to have had
crows who could repeat phrases,
among them, Come on Jack" Hello
joe" s. crow at Roxbury. Mass, could
say and also call the cat. After an
election it was found that he could
say, "Hurrah for Robinson" The
same bird is said to have laughed like
a person." and especially liked to do
this after a trick. "Oh, go ont" Now
you did it"' and TON, get up" are
among the phrases that these birds
are said to have mastered and used
frequently. The last named was used
by a crow to raise a whole family
every morning at daybreak. The bird
learned the phrase from Toms father,
who used to stand beneath the boys
window and shout it emphatically ev-
cry morning. till the crow took up
the task and tapped to the window
and screamed its call.
Ornithologists, observing the talent
of the tame crow for mimicry and int-
tation, are not surprised when they
see traces Of the same gift in wild
crows. Some have learned to catch
fish and fly down and snatch the fish
from the water in exactly the seagull
manner. Others do what tho gulls
do to break open the shells Of hard
shelled mollusks-sea CLAIMS and seal
lops. Flying high with one of them in
their claws they drop it on the rocks
or hard ground If they are not sue
cessful at once the act is repeated over
and over until the shell gives way.
Crows have been seen to do this four
or five times.
Grasping an Opportunity
Crows not only initiate but learn -
take advantage az the hak&ss ana Dsw.