268 NOTES ON THE 



me that ' 'the crow is a resident in the deep valley of the Root 

 river even in the severest winters." In his immediate locality 

 they are "common, feeding about the slaughter houses." 



Mr. Washburn, who spent from July 28th to September 12th 

 in the valley of the Red river in the interests of the survey 

 says : "I am rather puzzled to account for the actions of the 

 crow in this part of the country. I did not meet with them 

 until I reached Ada, and then I saw but a few, flying high in 

 the air. I was told at Georgetown, however, fifteen miles 

 north of Moorhead, that they are common in the spring. And I 

 was told too that they are seen at Ada in June when other 

 birds are nesting, but my informant had never seen a nest. As 

 autumn approached however, and my journey took me farther 

 northward, I met them more frequently. 



"The Crow is certainly more common in the northern part of 

 the valley than further south. I have learned that this bird 

 breeds plentifully about the lakes of Otter Tail county, and in 

 immense numbers in the country about Mille Lacs lake, where 

 there is more or less pine. I assume that they find in the pinei 

 sections, conditions more favorable for nesting than near the 

 Red river, and that accounts for their scarcity during July and 

 part of August; whereas, later in the season, when the young 

 crows can fly long distances, and when a change of food is 

 desirable, they flock upon the low land of the valley. In Sep- 

 tember, I observed large flocks of them near the track, north 

 and south of Crookston, and in riding across the country I met 

 them in large numbers on the meadow lands, catching and eat- 

 ing young frogs, which are exceedingly abundant here this 

 season." 



The farmers are close observers of this bird, and have a prac- 

 tical knowledge of some of his more interesting habits. I can't 

 say quite so much for him in his defense, but I think a charita- 

 ble apology by recognizing how he was brought up, and 

 acknowledging his services in the destruction of noxious 

 ground larvas, are due before exterminating him altogether. 

 Like his regal cousin, the raven, he is a shrewd fellow, and 

 appreciates a joke as well as almost any other member of his 

 numerous family. A farmer in the Sacramento valley, Califor- 

 nia, found that the crow could count up to three with infallible 

 certainty, but four was too much for him, and he settled it ip. 

 this wise. Immense flocks of them were interested in the 

 botany of his cornfield, and did not replant his corn shoots 

 after examining the fibrous roots, and he was thoroughly mad 



