had tlieir week's washing hung out shortly after snnrise. No sooner ! 

 were the clothes on th.e line than Pete was on the line too. Such a • 

 bold, saucy looking Pete ! Silently he worked till every clothespin \ 

 was removed, and every clean g-arment lay on the erround. Then ■ 

 with the utmost glee, he would mount a post and boisterously call 

 the housewife to see what he had done. i 



Sometimes this bold crow was captured on Monday morning and i 

 deprived of his liberty for the day. This was a severe trial to the i 

 clever old fellow. It was not pleasant to be shut up in a cage. He i 

 would rather walk down to the grocery store, a daily custom, where ^ 

 he often introduced an emphatic " Caw" into the political discus- ; 

 sions of the men. ; 



Pete has been dead many years. If he were still alive would you ; 

 not go a long distance to see him ? There are other members of his j 

 family living among you. Many of them are as wise and interesting : 

 as he. Why not become acquainted with some of them this year ? ' 

 Perhaps the following suggestions will help you : 



1. There is nothing black in nature, so the artist tells us. Our ; 

 " black " cat is a deep violet color. Blackberries are not black, are \ 

 they ? What do you say about crows ? Is there any color in their ' 

 handsome, glossy coats ? ; 



2. Crows eat corn. We all know this. Do they also eat insects ; 

 which injure the farm crops ? Here is a good subject for young ; 

 investigators. . ; 



3. Crows have a language. The patient student of nature can | 

 learn it. Note the different cries with which they express joy, fear i 

 and anger. ' 



4. Have you ever seen a sentinel on watch while the other crows : 

 are feeding ? i 



5. Where do these birds build their nests ? Are the nests larg^e ! 

 or small ? How many eggs have you ever found in one ? i 



6. A tame crow is an interesting pet. If you have one tell us i 



abaut him. ; 



474 1 



