Thk Crow Tribk. 79 



XII. 



THE CROW TRIBE. 



By E. G. B. Meade- WA1.D0. 



Members of the Crow family liave been for ao^es, and still 

 are, favourite pets in this country. Their vivacity, power of 

 mimicry, and the comparative ease with which they are kept, 

 recommending them to many who do not care for birds in 

 general. They have the reputation of being very long-lived, 

 and in many cases this is correct, but I do not consider that 

 they are suitable cage-birds as a rule. All are birds of high 

 intelligence, extremely active, and many of them are hardly 

 ever qtiiet. They are best suited to roomy aviaries or semi- 

 liberty. Under these conditions they thrive for years, and do 

 not seem to mind confinement in the least, as they make friends 

 with man, and amuse themselves in a variety of ways. All seem 

 to pair for life, and are devoted couples. 



The power of mimicry is by no means confined to tame 

 individuals ; both wild Jays and Magpies may be heard amusing 

 themselves by imitating various local cries. ' In many places I 

 have heard our common Jay hooting and calling exactly like 

 the Brown Owl, whose cry has evidently, and probably with 

 reason, impressed itself very much. 



In one of our woods the favourite song of the Jays in 

 spring (lor it is in spring that all these strange cries are mostly 

 uttered) is the call of the male common Sheldrake. No Shel- 

 drakes have been kept there for at least ten years. Yet the cry 

 has not been forgotten, and has probably been handed down to 



