212 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



doubtable King-bird who has courage for the attack, begin- 

 ning the onset by pursuing and diving on his back from 

 above, and harassing the plunderer with such violence, that 

 he is generally glad to get out of the way and forego his 

 piratical visit ; in short, a single pair of these courageous 

 and quarrelsome birds are sufficient to clear the Crows 

 from an extensive corn-field. 



The most serious mischief, of which the Crow is guilty, 

 is that of pillaging the maize field. He commences at 

 the planting-time, by picking up and rooting out the 

 sprouting grain, and in the autumn, when it becomes 

 ripe, whole flocks, now assembled at their roosting-places, 

 blacken the neighbouring fields as soon as they get into 

 motion, and do extensive damage at every visit, from the 

 excessive numbers who now rush to the inviting feast. 



Their rendezvous, or roosting-places, are the resort in 

 autumn of all the Crows and their families for many miles 

 round. The blackening silent train continues to arrive 

 for more than an hour before sun-set, and some still strag- 

 gle on until dark. They never arrive in dense -flocks, 

 but always in long lines, each falling into the file as he 

 sees opportunity. This gregarious inclination is common 

 to many birds in the autumn, which associate only in pairs 

 in the summer. The forests and groves, stripped of their 

 agreeable and protecting verdure, seem no longer safe and 

 pleasant to the feathered nations. Exposed to the birds of 

 prey, which daily augment in numbers ; penetrated by the 

 chilling blasts, which sweep without control through the 

 naked branches, the birds, now impelled by an overruling 

 instinct, seek in congregated numbers some general, 

 safer, and more commodious retreat. Islands of reeds, 

 dark and solitary thickets, and neglected swamps, are the 

 situations chosen for their general diurnal retreats and 

 roosts. Swallows, Black-birds, Rice-birds, and Crows 



