A NATURALIST. 103 



NO. X. 



Among the enemies with which the farmers of a poor 

 or light soil have to contend, I know of none so truly 

 formidable and injurious as the crows, whose numbers, 

 cunning, and audacity, can scarcely be appreciated, ex- 

 cept by those who have had long continued and numer- 

 ous opportunities of observation. Possessed of the most 

 acute senses, and endowed by nature with a considerable 

 share of reasoning power, these birds bid defiance to al- 

 most all the contrivances resorted to for their destruc- 

 tion; and when their numbers have accumulated to vast 

 multitudes, which annually occurs, it is scarcely possible 

 to estimate the destruction they are capable of effecting. 

 Placed in a situation where every object was subjected 

 to close observation, as a source of amusement, it is not 

 surprising that my attention should be drawn to so con- 

 spicuous an object as the crow ; and having once com- 

 menced remarking the peculiarities of this bird, I con- 

 tinued to bestow attention upon it during many years, 

 in whatever situation it was met with. The thickly 

 wooded and well watered parts of the state of Maryland, 

 as affording them a great abundance of food, and almost 



