254 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



At 4:35 P.M. Dr. Tyler and I again counted the southern stream for a minute 

 as they flew silently between us and the lighthouse. One of us counted 160 the 

 other 157 birds, so it is probable that our counts are fairly accurate. This 

 constant watching of the black stream from the south against the white light- 

 house produced in both of us a peculiar optical illusion. The lighthouse and dunes 

 seemed to be moving smoothly and swiftly from north to south I 



At 4:37 P.M. a great cawing arose from the hillside and a black cloud of birds 

 rose up, some to enter the roost, others to subside on the hillside. It was evident 

 that the birds from time to time had been diving into the roost. At 4:40 p.m. 

 it was rapidly growing dark and the tributary streams were evidently dwindling. 

 Only 50 went by the lighthouse in a minute. Five minutes later it was nearly 

 dark and only a few belated stragglers were hurrying to the concourse on the 

 hill. 



At 4:45 p.m. Dr. Tyler and I walked around to the north of the roost and al- 

 though we could see nothing in the darkness we could hear the silken rustle of 

 wings and feathers as the Crows were composing themselves for the night's rest 

 among the branches of the trees. The babble of low conversational notes that 

 went up from the company suggested the sounds of a Night Heronry although 

 caivings and earrings were interspersed with the kis and uks and ahhs. * * * 



In the dim light we could make out that the hillside field between the roost 

 and the sea was still blackened with birds that were continually rising up and 

 entering the trees. Some of them perched temporarily on the bare tops of the 

 hard woods where they were visible against the sky. The noise and confusion 

 were great. It would seem as if the roost was so crowded that the birds had to 

 wait their time for a chance to get in and that a constant shifting of places and 

 crowding was necessary before the Crows could settle in peace for the night 

 Hence the prolonged varied conversation; hence the profanity. 



It was an intensely interesting experience, this observation of the return of the 

 Crows to their night's lodgings, and one wished for eyes all about the head, well 

 sharpened wits to interpret and a trained assistant to take down notes. * ♦ ♦ 



At the full of the moon on the sixth of January I visited the roost at 9 p.m., 

 a time when all well regulated Crows should, I had supposed, be sound asleep. 

 As I approached the roost much to my surprise I heard distinct sleepy cries like 

 those of young herons, and when I reached the edge of the roosting trees there 

 was a timiultuous rush and bustle of Crows flying from tree to tree and overhead. 

 Strain my eyes as I would only occasionally could I catch sight of a black form, 

 although the air was brilliant with the moonlight and the reflection from the 

 snow. I turned back at once as I had no desire to disturb the birds' slumbers but 

 it was evident that many, even at this late hour, had not settled down for the 

 night. 



The morning flight from the roost takes less time than the evening return. 

 As I approached it in the semi-darkness at 6:25 a.m. on January 7, a distant 

 cawing could be heard and a minute later nine Crows were seen flying off to the 

 south, and three minutes later, nine went off to the west. At half past six, after 

 a great uproar of caws and uks, occasional rattles and wailing ahhhs, a broad 

 stream boiled up from the roosting trees and spread off towards the west, ob- 

 sciu-ely seen in the dim light except when the birds stood out against the be- 

 ginning red glow in the east or against the light of the setting moon in the 

 west. As I stood concealed on the hillside among a grove of spruces, the Crows 

 passed over my head, noiselessly except for the silken swish of their wings, 

 ftilly a thousand strong. Then no more for over five minutes although the tumtilt 



