inr one nest, as four were of different shape and color from the remaining 

 three. A number of ' runts' have come under my notice, the smallest of 

 which was the size of a large Meadow Lark's egg." 



W. S Cruzan, Sulphur Springs, Texas. — "Crows are very numerous 

 in most parts of this state. The American Crow breeds most abundantly 

 along streams in the central part of the state. The streams are skirted 

 with timber, composed chiefly of pecan, elm, and hackberry. During 

 all times of the year, numbers may be seen. They gather the pecan nuts 

 and eat them, also storing them away for future use. They will often 

 fly from a pecan tree with nuts, to a place on the prairie near some 

 bushes or weeds, and deposit a little pile of nuts, often as much as a pint 

 or more." 



Ellis F. Hadley, Dayton, Oregon. — "Crows are very common in the 

 Western part of Oregon, found m flocks in Winter. They live on 

 grain, which they gather after it has been sown, even pulling up the ten- 

 der shoots. I have seen them come down and eat with the chickens, in 

 flocks of from twenty-flve to fifty individuals. They devour a great many 

 insects and worms and are therefore beneficial to the country." 



Samuel L. Bacon, Erie, Pa. — "In the Summer of 1886, by shooting at 

 a Crow which was carrying something, evidently a heavy load, I induc- 

 ed it to drop that something, which proved to be a full grown Flicker just 

 dying." 



Robert R. Scorso. Afton, N. J. — " The Crow is among our commonest 

 birds, yet its real historv is but little known. The farmer generally 

 considers it a costly nuisance, but the scientist is not sure of that. 

 The farmer knows it feeds on grain, and the scientist knows it also 

 feeds on harmful insects. The Crow is largely concerned in the distribu- 

 tion of the poison ivy [Rhus toxjcodeudron) and poison sumach [RIiiis 

 Teiienata). although this bird is not the only species concerned in this 

 work." 



In the reports just given, no mention has been made of our sable 

 friend's propensity to appropriate the eggs of various domestic fowls, 

 particularly those usually nesting in the field or woods, as the guinea and 

 turkev. When once a nest is found, the happy possessor of the secret is a 

 regular and punctual customer. When a boy, it was one of my many 

 duties to " keep an eye on the turkey hens" during their nesting season, 

 for they would "steal their nests." They generally sauntered toward 

 the brambly fence corners nearest the woods, in an unconcerned manner, 

 slipping quietly on their nests when no one was looking. Often I obser\ - 

 ed a " Black Crow " at the top of a neighboring tree, impatiently hop- 

 ping from one foot to the other, spreading and folding his wings, or else 



