56 



a Silvertown golf ball ! I have no doubt that crows 

 are similarly taken in. I myself have watched a crow 

 trying for half an hour to break a ping-pong ball in 

 order to get at the yolk. 



When it comes to rearing up their young all birds 

 seem to be governed entirely by instinct, intelligence 

 does not seem to come into play at all. Instinct 

 teaches a bird at nestinoj time to sit upon anything in 

 the shape of an egg. Hence the vain endeavours of 

 one kite to hatch a pill-box. 



Therefore, if any one wish to pay back any debts 

 to a crow that person might do worse than deposit a 

 golf ball in the bird's nest ; an old ball will do quite 

 well, nay better than a new one, for it will be more 

 uncomfortable to sit upon. 



I am thankful to 

 be able to say that 

 crows indulge in 

 of amusement 

 other than 

 teasing their 

 fellow - crea- 

 tures. 



