OF NEW ENGLAND. 265 



birds ; and this is the most serious charge which can ' be 

 brought against them. They occasionally kill field mice, and 

 even, it is said, chickens. I have also seen them feeding on 

 snakes, but whether killed by themselves or not, I do not 

 know. In the latter part of summer, and in autumn, they feed 

 chiefly upon berries and grain. The young, constantly nour- 

 ished by their parents, grow rapidl}', and, at the end of about 

 five weeks, show no pin-feathers, appearing in full dress when 

 half-grown. They can then walk readily, and even fly for a 

 short distance. I have never had but one pair, who when 

 found, apparently had tumbled from their nest, as a dead one 

 was lying near b}'. Previously to experience, I had vaguely 

 suj^posed it necessary to feed young birds at least once an 

 hour, in order to keep them alive. To my surprise, I was able 

 to reduce the diet of my proteges to three meals a day, even 

 before they were well fledged. The young are easily nourished 

 upon meat, particularU^ if raw, and upon worms, or occasion- 

 ally even bread soaked in water. In October I have often 

 remarked a scarcity of Crows, who probably then pass to the 

 South, to be replaced b}'^ others from the North, who resume 

 their winter-habits in November. 



Our Crows walk with a slow, measured step, which Audubon 

 considers "elevated and graceful." That author adds that 

 they frequently alight "on the backs of cattle, to pick out the 

 worms lurking in their skin, in the same manner as the Magpie, 

 Fish-Crow, and Cow-bird." This I have never observed. They 

 fly with a regular, but seemingly slow beat of the wings, which 

 is occasionally relieved by sailing, especially when the birds 

 are about to alight, which they most often do at some height 

 from the ground. It is common to see them with ragged wings, 

 as if injured by shot ; but the loss of several feathers, even if 

 confined to one side, does not seem to interfere with their nat- 

 urally vigorous flight. As thej' often fly at a great height, and 

 very rarely near the ground, the}' are frequently obliged to fight 

 against the winds, and even to "tack," that they may reach 

 their destination. 



The natural characteristics of the Crows are sagacity, cun- 



