OF VICTORIA. 193 



remarks. Dr. N. A. Cobb (AgricuUural Gazette of JS'ew 

 South Wales, 1896, pp. 565-578), by comparison, considers 

 the food of the Australian crow to be on a par with that 

 of the American one. To test the value of the common 

 crow in the States, the Government at Washington arranged 

 to have 1,000 crow stomachs examined. The investigation 

 of the whole matter was thoroughly made, occupying nearly 

 ten years, and engaging the attention of specialists for 

 portions of that time. " I gather," says Dr. Hart Merriam, 

 " that crows have a predilection for insects possessing a 

 strong odour. For this reason they destroy a large amount 

 of insect life that many other birds pass over. The per- 

 centage of fruit eaten during the year is trivial, and tlie 

 amount of birds' eggs and young poultry shows 1 per cent, 

 of the food supply for the year. Insects form 26 per cent, 

 of the entire food, and the bulk of these are grasshoppers, 

 cutworms, and other injurious kinds. When insects are 

 abundant they form the bulk of the food." In summing 

 up the evidence gathered during ten years. Dr. Hart 

 Merriam says : — " It is clear that the good exceeds the bad, 

 and that the crow is a friend, rather than an enemy, of 

 the farmer." Mice frequently occur in the stomachs. 



Dr. Cobb makes some suggestions as to keeping it in 

 order. " The shooting or poisoning of the bolder crows 

 that pull sprouting grain or steal fruit is so obviously 

 commendable that the law should not interfere with the 

 farmers' eflforts in this direction. On the other hand, so 

 useful a bird should not be outlawed. The best way to deal 

 with our sable friend is to frighten him away from the place 

 he is likely to damage, but otherwise to let him alone." 

 Certain means are recommended, such as scarecrows, wind- 

 mills, pendant tins, poles and strings, poison, tarred grain, 

 kc. 



14 



