124 OMENSETTER : ANIMAL INTELLECT. 



They evidently said a great deal to each other on the subject, 

 and now and then one or two of them tried to pull the meat 

 away from him, which he resented. At last a big, strong 

 crow succeeded in tearing oiF a piece, with which he returned 

 to the pine where the others were congregated, and after much 

 earnest speech they all surrounded the dog and the leading 

 bird dextrously dropped the small piece of meat within reach 

 of his mouth, when he immediately snapped at it, letting go 

 the big piece unwisely for a second, on which two of the 

 crows flew away with it to the pine, and with much fluttering 

 and hilarity they all ate, or rather gorged it, the deceived dog 

 looking vacant and bewildered for a moment, after which he 

 sat under the tree and barked at them inanely. A gentleman 

 told me that he saw a dog holding a piece of meat in like 

 manner in the presence of three crows, which also vainly tried 

 to tear it from him, and after a consultation they separated, 

 two going as near as they dared to the meat, while the third 

 gave the tail a bite sharp enough to make the dog turn round 

 with a squeak, on which the other villains seized the meat, 

 and the three fed triumphantly upon it on the top of a wall." 



