DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 37 



EOOSTS OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT COVERED BY THE MAP. 



The country covered by the following list is so extensive that 

 there is little doubt but that a number of other roosts exist 

 within its limits which are still to be located by the ornitholo- 

 gist: 



6. Coatesville, Chester Co., Pa. 



Mr. Hugh E. Stone, who visited this roost in 1895, writes as 

 follows : 



"The roost is about a quarter of a mile from here on a 

 wooded ridge about half a mile long, running parallel with and 

 a short distance south of the Pennsylvania R. R., between 

 Coatesville and Pomeroy. The wood is of oak and chestnut 

 timber, most of the trees being about forty feet high and covers 

 the top and northern slope of the hill. 



"Yesterday (.January 29), when I visited it, the snow which 

 covered the ground was completely coated and discolored with 

 the droppings of the birds, and this not in small patches only 

 but all over the ground for hundreds of yards. At this season 

 the Crows begin to arrive about half past four and continue to 

 stream in from all directions until dark, the greatest numbers 

 seeming to come from the southeast. 



"The}' settle on the trees at either end of the wood, seeming 

 to prefer the ends to the middle and keep up until dark a clatter 

 that can be heard a mile away. 



"Last evening I visited the roost about dusk and had no 

 trouble in approaching quite near the trees without disturbing 

 many of the Crows which seemed quite stupid and sleepy. I 

 cannot understand why the birds should have selected such a 

 cold and unprotected wood for their roost." As to its former 

 location we learn from Mr. Thos. H. VVindle that "The roost 

 was formerly on the north valley hills, a quarter of a mile north 

 of Coatesville (prior to about 1890). The reason for the change 

 was because they were annoyed by gunners who visited the 

 roost after dark. Number of birds estimated at 30,000 to 

 50,000." Later Mr. Stone writes that the birds have again 

 crossed the valley to the north hills, where they have now roosted 

 for several years. Crows fly to this roost from Kennett Square, 

 Timicula and Morton ville, Chester Co., and probably also from 



