AMERICAN CROW. }$£ 



He was, for a long time, comparatively, a helplefs depend- Anecdotes of a 

 ant creature, having a very fmall degree of activity or vivacity, xrow * 

 every fenfe teeming to be afleep, or in embryo, until he had 

 nearly attained his finiftied dimensions and figure, and the ufe 

 of all his members. Then we were furprifed and daily 

 amufed with the progreffive developement of his fenfes, ex- 

 panding and naturating as the wings of the youthful phalaena, 

 when difengaged from its nympha (hell. 



Thefe fenfes however, feemed, as in man, to be only the 

 organs or in ft™ men ts of his intellectual powers, and of their 

 effecls, as di reeled towards the accomplithment of various 

 defigns and the gratification of the paffions. 



This was a bird of a happy temper and good difpoiition. 

 He was tradable and benevolent, docile and humble, whilft 

 his genius demonftrated extraordinary acutenefs and lively 

 fenfations. All thefe good qualities were greatly in his favour, 

 for they procured him friends and patrons, even among men 

 whofe fpciety and regard contributed to illuftrate the powers 

 of his understanding. But what appeared molt extraordinary, 

 he feemed to have the wit to felecl and treafure up in his 

 mind, and the fagacity to practice, that kind of knowledge 

 which procured him the moft advantage and profit. 



He had great talents, and a ftrong propensity to imitation. 

 When I was engaged in Weeding in the garden, he would 

 often fly to me, and after very attentively obferving me in 

 pulling up the fmall weeds and grafs, he would fall to work, 

 and with his ftfong beak pluck up the grafs ; and the more fo, 

 when I complimented him with encouraging exprefiions. Hd 

 enjoyed great pleafure and amufement in feeing me write? 

 and would attempt to take the pen out of my hand, and my 

 fpeclacles from my nofe. The latter article he was fo pleafed 

 with, that I found it neceflTary to put them out of his reach 

 when I had done ufing them. But one time, in particular, 

 having left them a moment, the crow being then out of my 

 light, recollecting the bird's mifchievous tricks, I returned 

 quickly and found him upon the table, rifling my inkitand, 

 books, and paper. When he faw me coming, he took up my 

 fpeclacles and flew off with them. I found it vain to pretend 

 to overtake him ; but (landing to obferve his'operations with 

 my fpeclacles, I faw him fettle down at the root of an apple- 

 tree, where, after amufing himfelf for awhile, I obferved 



O 2 that 



