THE CROW. 49 



along, until, fearful of losing his chance, he aims the 

 piece at the nearest bird, who, immediately perceiving 

 his danger, utters the alarm-note, and the whole flock 

 follow his lead beyond the reach of powder. Some- 

 times the sportsmen conceal themselves among shrub- 

 bery in the track of the Crows as they pass to and 

 from their roosting-places, but even here they cannot 

 always escape the scrutinizing glance of these ever- 

 suspicious birds, for they may be observed to wheel 

 to the right or the left of the spot as soon as they 

 approach within a short distance of it. A constant 

 fear of falling a prey to the murderous gun seems to 

 attend the whole life of the poor Crow; every suspi- 

 cious-looking individual is avoided with care, and it 

 is almost impossible to come within shooting distance 

 of him without great caution. 



But why is it that this bird should thus be an ob- 

 ject of common hatred and execration? Simply 

 because, as in the case of the Blackbirds, we have 

 placed a wrong estimate upon the works of an All- 

 wise Creator. What if the Crow does root up the 

 corn in some places, compelling the farmer to replant 

 and replant until his patience is gone ? The cut- 

 worms, of which these injured birds annually destroy 

 myriads, are certainly a far worse enemy, and more 

 to be dreaded, inasmuch as they appear when the 

 crop is far advanced, and accomplish its destruction 

 when it is too late to replant. 



The nest of the Crow is generally built in some 

 quiet and secluded spot, upon the jutting crag of a 

 precipitous rock, or among the thick branches of 

 5 D 



