AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. igr 



off the nest and flies away. If she does not happen to notice you as yoii 

 approach, she will caw with all her might and attract all the crows in the 

 neighborhood to her assistance. 



"Early in the morning they come quite near the house and feed, and I 

 have frequently seen them strip a piece of bark from a dead limb and eat 

 the insects found there. The young birds in a flock at this time can be 

 recognized by their rough plumage and cracked voices. As the seasoa 

 advances the young grow more wary, and soon acquire the beautiful 

 glossy coat of their parents; their voices also develop into the strong ring- 

 ing note of the old birds. 



"Crows are very difficult to approach, and, I think, can tell when a 

 man has a gun. While out walking with my father one Sunday an old 

 crow started up from a field and lighting in a pine near by, kept scolding, 

 and cawing. I waved my arms, but still he showed no signs of fear; at 

 last my father slowly raised his cane to his shoulder and pointed it at the 

 bird, whereupon the crow dropped from the tree and flew away in great 

 haste. Crows soon learn to distinguish their friends, and I have knowa 

 them to come to a farmer's dooryard for food placed there for them. At 

 Pualap Reservation, Wash., father has seen an Indian plowing in the 

 field, and the crows walking about within a few yards of him, apparently 

 without fear, but a white man could not get within ten rods of the same- 

 birds. They know that the Indians never shoot crows, believing that the 

 spirits of their ancestors go into these birds. Crows are surely wise 

 birds, and no doubt have a great many habits of which we know nothing."" 



CHIMNEY SWIFT. 



A. O. XJ. /4o. 4-23. {Chaeiura peta^ica.) 



RANGE. 



North America, east of the Plains, and as far north as Labrador. 

 South in winter to Mexico. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 5 in.; extent, about 13 in.; tail, 2 in. Eye, brown. Bill and 

 feet black. Sooty brown above, being slightly glossy on the back. The 

 under parts are much paler and nearly white on the throat. The wings 

 and tail are black; the latter are slightly rounded and each feather ended 

 in a spine. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Formerly the Chimney Swifts made their homes in hollow trees, but 

 since the localities where they formerly bred have become thickly settled 



