The Fiinng Crow. 169 



returned to the house at night, never attempting to consort with 

 his wild relations, w^hom he seemed to hold in considerable con- 

 tempt, calling out whenever he chanced to see one, ''AVho are 

 you?" in no very complimentary tones. 



I remember once seeing another of these birds that belonged 

 to an acquaintance, and also had full liberty to go and come 

 about the place, busily engaged one day in picking up grubs 

 on a piece of newly-ploughed ground, which the man had just 

 left to go to his dinner; when lo and behold! Mag. was suddenly 

 surrounded by a flock of wild Crows, some of w^hich commenced 

 an attack on the domesticated bird, which at once threw himself 

 upon his back, and commenced, as their manner is, fighting 

 with beak and claw: the odds were against him however, and 

 he doubtless felt that he must adopt other tactics if he wished 

 to save his bacon. Whether or not, after a few minutes of his 

 aboriginal method of warfare, he suddenly jumped to his feet, 

 and swelling out his breast began to repeat, as loudly as he 

 was able, his whole not very choice vocabulary, which so aston- 

 ished, and no doubt frightened his adversaries, that they at 

 once flew away, and Mag. returned, whistling, to the house in 

 triumph. 



When it was required to call this bird in from his rambles 

 about the farm, and he never ventured to any great distance, all 

 that was necessary was to go to the door, and rub two knives 

 briskly together, when he directly made his appearance, thinking 

 no doubt, that it was dinner-time, a delusion he was always en- 

 couraged to retain by giving him a bone to pick. 



I always looked upon this bird as mine, and was to have 

 taken him with me when I returned to Europe, but some month 

 or two before the time fixed for my departure he unfortunately 

 disappeared, whether stolen by some passing tramp, or killed by 

 a marauding cat, no one ever knew. 



The Piping Crow is perfectly hardy, and would live in an 

 out-door aviary all the year round, in this country, without 

 inconvenience. 



