OF NEW ENGLAND. 265 
birds; and this is the most serious charge which can be 
brought against them. They occasionally kill field mice, and 
even, it is said, chickens. I have also seen them feeding on 
snakes, but whether killed by themselves or not, I do not 
know. In the latter part of summer, and in autumn, they feed 
chiefly upon berries and grain. The young, constantly nour- 
ished by their parents, grow rapidly, and, at the end of about 
five weeks, show no pin-feathers, appearing in full dress when 
half-grown. They can then walk readily, and even fly for a 
short distance. I have never had but one pair, who when 
found, apparently had tumbled from their nest, as a dead one 
was lying near by. Previously to experience, I had vaguely 
supposed it necessary to feed young birds at least once’ an 
hour, in order to keep them alive. To my surprise, I was able 
to reduce the diet of my protégés to three meals a day, even 
before they were well fledged. ‘The young are easily nourished 
upon meat, particularly if raw, and upon worms, or occasion- 
ally even bread soaked in water. In October I have often 
remarked a scarcity of Crows, who probably then pass to the 
South, to be replaced by others from the North, who resume 
their winter-habits in November. 
Our Crows walk with a slow, measured step, which Audubon 
considers ‘‘elevated and graceful.” That author adds that 
they frequently alight ‘on the backs of cattle, to pick out the 
worms lurking in their skin, in the same manner as the Magpie, 
Fish-Crow, and Cow-bird.” This I have never observed. They 
fly with a regular, but seemingly slow beat of the wings, which 
is occasionally relieved by sailing, especially when the birds 
are about to alight, which they most often do at some height 
from the ground. It is common to see them with ragged wings, 
as if injured by shot; but the loss of several feathers, even if 
confined to one side, does not seem to interfere with their nat- 
urally vigorous flight. As they often fly at a great height, and 
very rarely near the ground, they are frequently obliged to fight 
against the winds, and even to ‘‘tack,” that they may reach 
their destination. 
The natural characteristics of the Crows are sagacity, cun- 
