SAM BLACK 217 



was ever on the alert to shoot a crow. "Not only could 

 he do so without censure^ but he must match wits 

 with a creature so cunning that it is a real triumph to 

 kill one. 



Often I have tried to slip up on a flock of Sam^s lieu- 

 tenants when they were heckling an owl or a hawk. Like a 

 true leader, when Sam got his crowd together, he left the 

 work of driving away the intruder to them, while he kept 

 a sharp lookout for their safety. He had totally ignored 

 guns until Brother John shot his friend, but ever after- 

 ward he feared even us if we had a gun and were outside 

 of the yard. I could never get within gunshot of Sam and 

 his flock without his knowledge. No matter how busy 

 they were, one sharp "Caw, caw, caw'^ from Sam and they 

 left their victim and scattered instantly. 



Sam was the recognized leader of the flock, and tho 

 young for such a responsibility, it was he who called their 

 council, heard the reports, and then perched silent on the 

 tallest limb and meditated. When calling his counsellors, 

 his call was distinctive. He would perch on the top of 

 a tree and call "Caw, caw, caw,'' wagging his whole body 

 with every "caw,'^ then wait a few moments and repeat 

 his call. Soon the crows would begin to arrive, but not 

 nearly so rapidly as when they heard the 'Tielp" call. Soon 

 all were together and the deliberations would begin. Some- 

 times they were noisy, more often they were dignified and 

 orderly. No matter, Sam always occupied the highest 

 perch; and remained till his flock scattered. 



In the spring Sam selected a mate which refused to nest 

 near home. Soon he ceased coming home at all. Possibly 

 he became too familiar with some of the neighbors' things 

 and was killed. More likely, as I could no longer recog- 



