216 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



ing bolder and more free to help herself to the good things 

 the place offered. One evening Brother John cleaned his 

 target rifle and said he was going to shoot the first crow 

 that came near. Next morning Sam came begging for his 

 breakfast, and his lady love began strutting about in the 

 yard picking up crumbs and crusts from the garbage pail. 

 When John stepped out of the house^ she flew to the top 

 of a tall tree a hundred yards away. He shot, and as luck 

 would have it, killed her. Her carcass was hung on a pole 

 near the hen house and this effectively put an end to 

 callers. For a few days Sam was disconsolate. Then he 

 did his best to persuade himself and his new friends that 

 it was an accident ; but they merely sat in the old orchard 

 forty rods away and watched while he came for his break- 

 fast. Some people say a crow mates for life. I do not 

 know. Sam's first love gone, he did not select another that 

 season, but spent his time gaining wisdom. He flew far 

 and wide. Was he gathering news for the crow's con- 

 clave when it met in the old dead tree in Gregory's 

 pasture ? He had an unusually keen eye and sharp wit even 

 for a crow. His experience as a pet had taught him so 

 much of human ways that his wisdom was almost uncanny. 

 Tho he usually came home at least once every day or two 

 for food, he soon became the local guardian and leader 

 of this race. When an owl, a hawk, or any other enemy 

 came into the neighborhood it was usually Sam who dis- 

 covered the intruder and gave the help call, a shrill pro- 

 longed ^*^Ca-a-a-ah, ca, ca." Soon crows would come from 

 all directions to help drive away the intruder. 



Farmers seldom love crows. Crows like to feed their 

 young sprouted com and to secure it they pull up the 

 farmer's corn. No wonder every boy in the neighborhood 



