The Wise Crow 



Nelson R. Wood, a taxidermist at the Smithsonian Institution, after having 

 made practically a life study of the crow, claims that it is the most intelligent 

 bird in existence. In my youth, he said, I was a farmer boy, and one of the few 

 pets I possessed was a crow given me by my teacher. This crow, Jack, became 

 something of a "Mary's little lamb" pet. No matter where I went he would 

 be near. When I was not working in the field he would hang around looking 

 for food. Sometimes I would catch a worm and would call out "Come here. 

 Jack, and see what I've found," and over he would scurry and gobble it up. The 

 wild crows, incidentally, did everything they could to coax him back with them, 

 and, while Jack refused, he lived in constant terror of them. 



I have seen some wonderful instances of intelligence on the part of crows, 

 Mr. Wood continued. One bird, I remember, took a keen delight in tobogganing". 

 He would take a shoe-blacking box top to the top of a board which leaned against 

 the house, climb into it and slide down. This seemed to be his chief pleasure, 

 in which he was ready to indulge at all times. 



Another crow preferred his bread soaked in water. One day I caught him 

 picking around a jar top. He finally got it the way he wanted, dropped his 

 bread in it, and then, picking the top up, took it over to his trough. After hold- 

 ing it under the water for a second he proceeded to eat the bread with evident 

 relish. 



While crows are exceptionally intelligent they are at the same time abnor- 

 mally afraid. Their fear is silly, and as many times as not without foundation. 

 One bird I had was afraid of a soda-cracker. The mere sight of it sent him 

 scuttling to his perch, and so long as it remained in evidence he could not be 

 coaxed down. He was equally afraid of a swinging door. 



Another bird was afraid of black to the extent that a black tie affected him 

 the same as an entire black suit. Still another feared peanuts. Were a peanut 

 put on the top of his food he would go for hours without touching a morsel. 



Crows are usually afifectionate, almost as much so as dogs, Mr. Woods 

 claims. Once a crow becomes attached to you he will always be your friend. 

 Leave him, and, while he will make one friendship during your absence, he will 

 come back to you as soon as you return. 



Crows must have playthings, and with these they play as intelligently as 

 children. When I am hammering away at something my crow will hammer away 

 in his cage with a tiny stick. 



More than this, crows are naturally clean. When they are eating, if the 

 tiniest particle sticks to their plumage they immediately stop to remove it. 



Altogether, I consider the crow the most intelligent of birds and one which 

 more than repays any one for the time and trouble required in training him. 

 Crows are more than mere pets, they are companions. 



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