AMERICAN CROW 15 



fishing" through the ice on the Hudson, watching 

 at the fissures in the ice alongshore, at low tide, 

 pulling out whatever fish were passing. And we 

 are told by Mr. A. M. Frazer of an original j)et 

 Crow who had a way of his own to rid himself 

 of parasites. He would "deliberately take his 

 stand upon an ant mound and permit the ants to 

 crawl over him and carry away the troublesome 

 vermin." 



The intelligence of the Crow is also seen at 

 the nest, where his domestic virtues shine out 

 brightly. To cradle his heavy young, he picks 

 out strong twigs and carries them high up in 

 a treetop, and, when the nest is done, stands 

 guard over his handsome green eggs, and later his 

 young, by keenly scrutinizing all passing gunners 

 and boys of evil intent. Nuttall ascribes strong 

 family affection to the Crows. He thinks they 

 remain mated through life, and says that, not 

 only does the male feed his mate on the nest and 

 brood the eggs in her absence, but when the 

 young have left the nest, both old birds "con- 

 tinue the whole succeeding summer to succor and 

 accompany their offspring in all their undertak- 

 ings and excursions." 



