50 INSESSORES. 



some tall tree beyond the reach of his great enemy 

 man. It is composed externally of moss, sticks, and 

 ^thin pieces of bark, stuck together sometimes with 

 mud or clay, and lined with horse-hair or wool, so as 

 to make a thick warm bed. The eggs are four, of a 

 pale greenish hue, marked with blotches of olive. 

 When the vicinity of the nest is approached, the 

 noise made by the birds often brings to their assist- 

 ance all the Crows in the neighborhood, who join in 

 the general hubbub until the intruder retires, fre- 

 quently following him to a considerable distance, as 

 though to be sure of his retreat. 



In the Autumn these birds congregate in vast 

 flocks, and resort to some particular spots to roost, 

 generally along the margins of rivers or the shores 

 of lakes, where there is an abundant growth of reeds, 

 upon which they settle in such numbers as to bend 

 them to the earth. Toward these roosting-places 

 they may be seen, in the latter part of the day, 

 slowly wending their way, in long, straggling, and 

 apparently interminable lines, sometimes flying low 

 over the fields, and sometimes high above in the air. 

 These flocks disperse during the daytime in smaller 

 companies to search for food. 



The Crow is capable of being domesticated so as 

 to become quite an amusing pet, and, it is said, may 

 be taught to utter a few words of good English. It 

 soon learns to distinguish between the different mem- 

 bers of the family, appears terrified at the approach 

 of a stranger, has a great propensity for hiding small 

 articles, particularly of metal, also corn and food 



