254 THE FEATHERED Till BBS. 



The most unpraftised observer can scarcely fail to distinguish a crow, for the 

 plumage, though generally dense and dark, is soft and lustrous, and the species bear a 

 great resemblance to each other. They also exhibit corresponding instincts, being, if 

 not shy, at least cimniug and watchful. They are onmivorous in the fullest sense of the 

 term, and will poke their beaks into everything they can find, from a boiled potatoe 

 to a dead horse. 



The carrion crow, which is spread over both the old and now continents, feeds, like the 

 ravens, on putrid flesh ; to which, however, it adds insects, worms, fine grain, fruit, and 

 eggs. In winter it associates with the rooks and hooded crows, and may be seen, with 

 them, on fresh turned earth, searching for worms, insects, and other larva?. At the 

 approach of night, they assemble in considerable flocks, and retire to the highest trees of 

 the forest. Early in the spring, when the rooks quit the south of Europe in flocks, to 

 build their elevated cities in the high trees in the north, the carrion crows separate into 

 pairs, and proceed alone in the great work of nidification. The nest, like that of the 

 rook, is constructed at the summit of a tree of slender branches, matted with clay and 

 horse-dung, and lined within with fibres. The female lays fom' or five eggs of a paleish 

 green, with obscm-e spots and bars. 



The old birds have great aftection for tlieir young, which remain a long time under 

 their fostering care, and to which the parents have the address to carry the eggs of par- 

 tridges ia their bills. They lay but once in the year, unless the eggs or young be 

 destroyed by accident. They will engage with the accipiters in defence of their j'ouug 

 and eggs. It is said that the conjugal union of these birds continues during life. 



The carrion crow will learn, when domesticated, to speak like the raven, and displays, 

 in its general habits, no small sagacity. It will sometimes seize chickens from the 

 poidtry-yard, and will also destroy such small birds as it can find in the fowler's snare, 

 which it escapes falling into itself, probably by the perfection of its sense of smell ; bird- 

 lime, or glue, and meat infused with nux- vomica, are used therefore to take them instead 

 of the net. 



White, and varied varieties, are sometimes met with, csiDecialh^ in high latitudes, as 

 in the ravens ; indeed, a general analogy prevails between these species, in nearly all 

 their characters, essential and iiiditferent. 



The carrion crow is, pcrliaps, the most generally known and least beloved, of all our 

 land birds ; having neither melody of song, nor beauty of plumage, nor civility of 

 manners, to recommend him ; on the contrary, he is branded as a thief and a plunderer. 

 Hated as he is by the farmer, watched and persecuted by almost every bearer of a gun, 

 who all triumph in his destruction, had not heaven bestowed on him intelligence and 

 sagacity far beyond common, there is reason to believe, that the whole tribe long ago 

 would have ceased to exist. The mj'riads of worms, moles, mice, caterpillars, grubs and 

 beetles, which he destroys, are altogether overlooked ; but on account of his dejjredations 

 among the poultrj'^ and game, no mercj'^ is shown him. 



A gentleman, who resided on the Delaware, a few miles below ]'Jaston, had reared a 

 crow, with whose tricks and society he used frequently to amuse himself. Tliis crow 

 lived long in the family, but at length disappeared, having, as was then supposed, been 

 shot by some vagrant gunner, or destroyed by accident. About eleven montlis after this, 

 as the gentleman one morning, in comjiany with .several otlicrs, was standing on tlie 

 river shore, a number of crows happening to j)ass by, one of them left the flock, and 

 flying directly towards the company, alighted on llie gentleman's shoulder, and began to 

 gabble away with great volubility, as one long ub.sent friend naturally enough does on 

 meeting with another. On recovering from liis suiprise, the gentleman instantly 

 recognised his old a((|uaintanc(\ and endeavoured, by several civil but sly maiuruvres, to 

 lay hold of him; but the crow, not altogether relishing quite so much familiarity, luiving 



