50 INSESSORES. 
some tall tree beyond the reach of his great enemy— 
man. It is composed externally of moss, sticks, and 
thin pieces of bark, stuck together sometimes with 
mud or clay, and lined with horse-hair or wool, so as 
to make a thick warm bed. The eggs are four, of a 
pale greenish hue, marked with blotches of olive. 
When the vicinity of the nest is approached, the 
noise made by the birds often brings to their assist- 
ance all the Crows in the neighborhood, who join in 
the general hubbub until the intruder retires, fre- 
quently following him to a considerable distance, as 
though to be sure of his retreat. 
In the Autumn these birds congregate in vast 
flocks, and resort to some particular spots to roost, 
generally along the margins of rivers or the shores 
of lakes, where there is an abundant growth of reeds, 
upon which they settle in such numbers as to bend 
them to the earth. Toward these roosting-places 
they may be seen, in the latter part of the day, 
slowly wending their way, in long, straggling, and 
apparently interminable lines, sometimes flying low 
over the fields, and sometimes high above in the air. 
These flocks disperse during the daytime in smaller 
companies to search for food. 
The Crow is capable of being domesticated so as 
to become quite an amusing pet, and, it is said, may 
be taught to utter a few words of good English. It 
soon learns to distinguish between the different mem- 
bers of the family, appears terrified at the approach 
of a stranger, has a great propensity for hiding smal! 
articles, particularly of metal, also corn and food 
