Year: 1868

THE GREAf AENTCChk CROW ROOST.


One of the most remarkable sights
in Kentucky is the crow roost, seven
miles from Lexington, on the Danyille
pike. The roOst is so old that the
memory of the oldest inhabitant of
the bluegrass region runneth not to
the contrary. Many years ago the
roost was nearer Lexington, but as the
trees were cut away the crows moved
southwark, always seeking the next
piece of timber. At present there are
no large forests in the country near
the city, and many pieces of timber
have been called into requisition to
lodge their black highnesses. Hun
dred5 sleep in the open fields for want
Of a limb, and the wrangle over de-
sirable bed in tree top is something
fearful,


By the amount of cawing and iawing
done every evening, we should think
the question of ofreconstructing the roost,
or removing it altogether, was under
discussion. Whether the crows will
ever abandon their ancient roost is a
matter Of some doubt, but Judging by
the fact that hundreds, il not thou
sands, have already given up the trees
and roost on the ground, we incline to
the opinion that when there are no
more trees all will content themselves
with a bed on mother earth. A
gentleman who lives near the roost,
and who has fine locust grove near
his house, was surprised one evening
to see it black with crows.


For time it all went well, but the
roost became popular, and every eve
ming there was wrangle to see who
would get it, As the desirable place
would hold only few hundreds, and
there were some thousands who night
ly applied for lodgings, the noise and
confusion became intolerable. Some
times in the middle of the night an
overloaded limb would break, and
then battle would ensue, lasting not
unfrequcntly till daylight. Tired out
with the din that banished the idea
of sleep one night the old fellow and
his son sailed out with shot guns and
slew some hundreds of their annoying
visitors. Next morning the crows
were all gone, and returned no more
to that grove.


The other evening we drove out to
the roost, and witnessed sight we
shall not soon forget. 1t was four o.
clock when we arrived on the ground,
and already the crows had begun to
arrive. At sundown they were COM
ing from all directions, and long lines
continued entering the woods from
every quarter until dark. Each flock
had its Aier or leader, who flew over
the tree-tops until he found his roost,
when the head of the column lighted,
the rest circling round and round and
winding themselves about the chief.


On one tree only two or three crows
sat who kept up an incessant cawing,
and every now and then one would
quit the tree, and, after flying to an
approaching flock, would return and
apparently report to an old fellow
who sat on the topmost branch, and
never quilted his position, but kept
tapping his wings and constantly
grumbling about something. He may
have been the king of all the crow
nation. At times the venerable cuss
spoke in highly excited and gutteral
tone.


We drove up quite close to the trees,
bending beneath their weight, but
these birds, usually so shy, did not
mind us much until my companion
initiated the explosion of gun, when
a scene that beggars description fol-
lowed. Instantly cries arose from all
parts of the wood, and thousands of
crows flew into the air, circling round
and round us, cawing vociferoisly.
At times the noise was so great that,
although sitting side by side in the
buggy, we had to speak loudly in order
to be heard by each other. Having
raised great distress among our black
friends, we drove off, but for miles
saw focks in the air still coming to
roost.