Anecdotes of an American Croiv. 91 



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most extraordinary, he seemed to have the wit to 

 select and treasure up in his mind, and the sagacity 

 to practise, that kind of knowledge which procured 

 him the most advantage and profit. 



He had great talents, and a strong propensity to 

 imitation. When I was engaged in weeding in the 

 garden, he would often fly to me, and, after very at- 

 tentively observing me in pulling up the small weeds 

 and grass, he would fall to work, and with his strong 

 beak, pluck up the grass; and the more so, when I 

 complimented him with encouraging expressions. 

 He enjoyed great pleasure and amusement in seeing 

 me write, and would attempt to take the pen out of 

 my hand, and my spectacles from my nose. The 

 latter article he was so pleased with, that I found it 

 necessary to put them out of his reach, when I had 

 done using them. But, one time, in particular, hav- 

 ing left them a moment, the crow being then out of 

 my sight, recollecting the bird's mischievous tricks, 

 I returned quickly, and found him upon the table, 

 rifling my inkstand, books, and paper. When he 

 saw me coming, he took up my spectacles, and flew 

 off with them. I found it vain to pretend to over- 

 take him ; but standing to observe his operations 

 with my spectacles, I saw him settle down at the root 

 of an apple-tree, where, after amusing himself, for 

 awhile, I observed, that he was hiding them in the 

 grass, and covering them with chips and sticks, often 

 looking round about, to see whether I was watching 

 him. When he thought he had sufficiently secreted 

 them, he turned about, advancing towards me, at my 



