TIIF. WESTERN CROW. 



Ixiastings are resptmsiljle iti lars^c measure tnr the unsa\-(jr_\' reputatimi in wliicli 



he is held. It is a faniiHar adage in ebony circles that the pmper stud\- of 



Crow-kind is man. ,^ ^ 



and so well has he 



pnrsncd this stuilv 



that he may fairly 



he said to Imld his 



own in spite of tierce ^ 



and ingenious perse- / 



cut ion. He rejoices I 



in the name of 



-. >*lij^^- ..<v••».^^-: 



Tnlfti I'li Oregon. Pholo by Bohlman and Fin'icy 



WKSTERX CROW AT NEST. 



laitlaw. and ages of ill-treatment have only served to shaqien his wits and. 

 intensify his cunning. 



That the warfare waged against him is largely unnecessary, and partly 

 unjust, has l)een pretty clearly ])ro\en of late by scientists who ha\-e investi- 

 gated the Crow's food hahits. It is true that he destroys large numbers of 

 eggs and nestlings, and. if allowed to, that he will occa^onally invade the 

 poultry yard — and for such conduct there can be no apology. It is true. also. 

 that some damage is inflicted upon corn in the roasting-ear stage, and that 

 corn left fnit thru the winter constitutes a staple article of Crow diet. I'ut 

 it is estimated that birds and eggs form only about one-half of one ])er cent 

 of their ti tal fliet : and in the case of grain, certainly they perform conspicuous 

 services in r.aising the cr<)]). P>esides the articles of food mentioned, great 



