THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. 



Vol. XVII. OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER, 1903. No. 6. 



MY PET CROWS. 



L. H. Smith, Strathroy, Ont. 



The first bird pet I ever owned was a member of the Crow 

 family, a Jackdaw. This bird is a smaller species of Crow, and 

 makes a most interesting pet. Of course my pet's name was Jack, 

 and, when poor Jack died, as all pels do (and generally tragically), 

 it nearly broke my heart. It was in my boyhood's days, in the 

 old land, and I can see now the mournful procession of children in 

 Jack's funeral cortege, all crying out of sympathy for each other, 

 and also for me, who was Jack's master. What a sad day poor 

 Jack's funeral was to me ! 



Of the many pets I have had in this country, none are so 

 funny, so cunning, and so interesting, as our common Crow. 



On a fine day in early June, 1901, with a friend I started out 

 to hunt a crow's nest. We had a long tramp, and were not suc- 

 cessful until we came upon two boys, and, on putting the question 

 to them " Did they know of a crow's nest ? " Yes, they knew of 

 one, with five young ones in it, but there were five boys interested 

 in it, and each boy wanted a crow. " Well, show me where the 

 nest is, that I may see how large the young ones are ; and, if they 

 are ready to take, I will make some arrangement with you to let 

 me have them." They took us to the nest ; one of the boys 

 climbed the tree and held up one of the young birds, and I saw 

 that it was nicely feathered and just the right age to take to rear. 

 "Now, boys, what will you take for your crows?" Oh, they 

 would each take ten cents I expected a higher demand, so closed 

 at once, and ordered the boy who was in the tree to bring down 

 all the crows in his handkerchief, which he did " Now, boys, who 

 besides yourselves are in the partnership in this crow's nest ? " 

 They named three others, and I said " Here is your 10c. each for 



