^"lo"^^! Eaton, A» Epidemic of Roup in the Croiu Roosf. ^J 



During most of July and August I was away, and on my return 

 there were two sets of young birds, but as they were growing more 

 timid and never appeared altogether, I cannot tell their number. 

 On the whole the year's nests have been more successful than is 

 usual for the Cardinal Grosbeak, and we fondly hope that they 

 will seek the shelter of our roof again next year. 



AN EPIDEMIC OF ROUP IN THE CANANDAIGUA 

 CROW ROOST. 



BY ELON HOWARD EATON. 

 /"/cj/e II. 



About the mkldle of December, 1901, a malady broke out 

 among the Crows {Corviis americaiius) of Ontario County, New 

 York, which, ere spring, had decimated the ranks of the local 

 ' roost.' As soon as winter had fairly begun, reports commenced 

 to come in of Crows which had been "blinded by freezing of their 

 eyes," as the farmers expressed it. 



Upon careful examination it was found that the roup had in- 

 vaded the Ontario flock, and birds were dying daily from its effects. 

 In one field about twenty dead and dying birds were picked up 

 in one day. Nearly every grove or large field within a distance 

 of ten miles from the roosting-grounds displayed one or more 

 dead Crows. Nearly every wandering crow's track in the snow, 

 after circling round and round in an apparently aimless manner, 

 would lead one to a black carcass lying under a tree or against a 

 fence. Usually they sank down with their bills in the snow and 

 their wings very slightly extended, but sometimes they died in a 

 sitting posture with the feathers of the head rufifled up to their 

 fullest extent. Often the birds died in trees, clutching the 

 branches to the last and then falling headlong into the snow or 

 landing on their backs with the wing tips pointing upwards. 



All the sick birds were suffering from an acute inflammation of 



