THE AMERICAN CROW. 5 
would contribute to a sympathetic understanding of the black brother who is 
only less intelligent than we. 
Every one knows that Crows talk. Their cry is usually represented by a 
single syllable, caw, but it is capable of many and important modifications. 
For instance, keraw, keraw, comes from some irritated and apprehensive female 
who is trying to smuggle a stick into the grove. Kawk-kawk-kawk, proclaims 
sudden danger, and puts the flock into instant commotion; while caw-aw, 
caw-aw, caw-aw, reassures them again. Once, in winter, when the bird-man 
was screech-owling for sport, a company of Crows settled in the tops of neigh- 
boring trees, and earnestly discussed the probable nature of the object half- 
concealed under a camera cloth. Finally they gave it up and withdrew, as I 
supposed. It seems that one old fellow was not satisfied, for as I ventured at 
last to shift ever so little 
from my strained posti- 
tion, he set up a derisive 
“Ca-a-a-w,” froma branch 
over my head-——as who 
should say, “Aw, ye can’t 
WOell inate, Wags use El 
ma-a-a-n’”’ — and _ flapped 
away in disgust. 
The final Crow philol- 
ogy also is still unwritten. 
The Corvine tongue would 
be worthy the attention of 
Professor Garner were it 
not for the fact that exple- 
tives preponderate. 
Space fails to describe 
the elaborate structure of 
Crow society, to tell of the 
military and pedagogical 
systems which they en- 
force, of the courts of justice and penal institutions which they maintain, 
of the vigilantes who visit vengeance upon evil-minded owls and other offend- 
ers, or even of the games which they play,—tag, hide-and-seek, blind-man’s 
buff and pull-away,—but a word must be spared for that most serious busi- 
ness of life, nesting. 
A typical Crow’s nest is a very substantial affair, as our illustration 
shows. Upon a basis of coarse sticks a mat of dried leaves, grasses, bark- 
strips and dirt, or mud, is impressed. ‘The deep, rounded bow! thus formed 
is carefully lined with strips of grape-vine bark, twine, horse-hair, wool and 
Taken near Columbus. Photo by the Author. 
CROW’S NEST IN BEECH TREE. 
