COR V US A MEIilCA.WS. 



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In Miissachusctts the Crows, most unfortuniit(!ly for the Ihriner, frequent tlie open 

 country and are ready, at the slightest notice but without any special invitation, to feast 

 on the newly sown grain or pull up the freshly sprouted corn. They are also very fond 

 of this latter named article of diet when the ears are in the milk, that is just before ripen- 

 ing. All these depredations are couunitted in such a sly manner that the thieves elude 

 completely the intended vengeance of the husbandman. They are in the fields at break 

 of day or take advantage of a temporary absence of the guardian of the crops. Scare- 

 crows, no matter how artistically constructed, lose their sham terrors after a time and 

 other inventions for frightening them almost always fail. In short they are bound to have 

 their fill and will not be driven away from any locality where they get good living, until 

 one or two are slain and the bodies of the offenders are exposed on the spot where they 

 committed their venturesome forays. Then the survivors take the hint and depart but, 

 persistent to the last, only wing their way to some neighboring farm where they will 

 commence their ravages with fresh vigor. 



I found the Crows building in the tops of high pine trees at Miami about the first 

 week of April. The time of breeding in Massachusetts varies somewhat with the season 

 but the eggs ai'e usually deposited by the first week of May. In most districts they se- 

 lect high pines but I have found the nests at Ipswich in apple trees not ten feet from the 

 ground. These birds are not very shy in this latter named section as they are seldom dis- 

 turbed, for they obtain the greater portion of their food about the creeks and on the marshes, 

 seldom molesting the crops. The voice of the Crow is harsh but the caw is rather enliv- 

 ening, especially in winter. This note is all that they usually utter but occasionally they 

 emit a peculiar cry consisting of four or five notes, pitched in a high key. It appears at 

 first thought that the cawing Crows shouhl hardly lie placed in the same section with the 

 Mocking Bird, White-throated Sparrow, and other species that pour forth such charming 

 melodies. Not only are the notes of the Crow capable of considci-able modulation, as has 

 been illustrated by keeping them in confinement and instracting them, but they also have 

 a kind of song which is given during the breeding season. It may seem absurd to talk 

 about Crows singing, but having heard their performance, I can bear testimony to its ex- 

 cellence, that is comparatively speaking. 



I was once watching a pair of Crows that were building in a small grove in Newton- 

 ville and, as I had succeeded in gaining a place of concealment not far from the birds, 

 without attracting their attention, had a fine opportunity of observing their movements, 

 while they were entirely unconscious of my presence. The first thing that I noticed was 

 a peculiar sound which somewhat resembled the cooing of a Dove, but it was far more 

 musical. As only one of the birds was discernible from wh(;re I stood, I could not at first 

 make out from what direction it came, Imt after a moment, moved slightly, when I saw at 

 once that the author of this singular melody was no other than a Crow, evidently a male. 

 He was seated on the liinli of a tree by the side of his mate and was behaving in an odd 

 manner for so grave a bird. He would move sideways on his perch, bow his head, spread 

 his tail, and droop his wings, at the same time giving utterance to the cooing note. The 

 femah' watched him demurely all the while Init iinide no demonstrations whatever, and, 



