472 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Many arc the disputes settled only b)- the customary " picking a 

 crow. " 



As an expression of liumiliation eatinj^ crow has about the same 

 meaning as eating humble pie. The significance is said to have had its 

 origin during the civil war, coming about in this way. A private in a 

 certain Pennsylvania regiment got permission to go hunting. During 

 the day he was unfortunate enough to shoot a pet crow belonging to 

 a planter who came in sight just as the shot was fired. Seizing the gun 

 which the unlucky hunter had rested against a tree he thundered, 

 " You will eat that crow or die." There being no escape the soldier be- 

 gan sulkily to devour his unpalatable capture. When he had eaten a 

 part the planter relenting said : ' You've done pretty well ; here, take 

 your gun and get off right smart." The soldier no sooner had the gun 

 in his own hands than he turned it suddenly upon the late victor, ex- 

 claiming, " Now you cat the rest of that crow or I'll shoot you on the 

 spot." 



Astonished and helpless the planter meekly obeyed. Visiting the 

 camp a few days later, he was politely greeted by the smiling soldier. 

 " Do you know him .^" inquired an officer of his visitor. "O yes," was 

 the pleasant reply, " we dined together last week . " 



The well-known English sparrow, once courted in all parts of the 

 country is now as diligently persecuted. It is admitted that he has san- 

 itary habits, that he is an invaluable assistant in cleaning the city 

 streets, but on the other hand dark and dreadful tales are told of him — 

 how nothing prevents his inroads on seeds and grain, how he torments, 

 whips and even kills the sweeter song birds, how he appropriates every- 

 thing for his own selfish wants. From many quarters the harsh decis- 

 ion comes, "The sparrow must go" — but the sparrow will not go. 



Poor little sparrow ! Plucky, sociable, restless, troublesome little 

 sparrow. Could you but be contented with a share of this world's 

 goods ; could you but learn to control your temper better, could you 

 only learn to be more generous, more polite in your dealings with men 

 and birds you would save yourself a vast amount of trouble, as many a 

 larger biped would do. 



Blithest and most of all our song birds is the bobolink, who comes 

 in the spring from the West Indies and begins singing with such volu- 

 bility and hilarity that the listener cannot fail to find the spring enthu- 

 siasm throbbing in his own veins. " He chants out," says Wilson, "such 

 a jingling medley of short, variable notes, uttered with such seeming 

 confusion and rapidity that it seems as if half a dozen birds of different 



