THE AMERICAN CROW. 



would contribute to a sympathetic understanding of the black brother who is 

 only less intelligent than we. 



Every one knows that Crows talk. Their cry is usually represented by a 

 single syllable, caw, but it is capable of many and important modifications. 

 For instance, keraw, keraw, comes from some irritated and apprehensive female 

 who is trying to smuggle a stick into the grove. Kawk-kawk-kawk, proclaims 

 sudden danger, and puts the flock into instant commotion; while caw-aw, 

 caw-aw, ca^v-a^v, reassures them again. Once, in winter, when the bird-man 

 was screech-owling for sport, a company of Crows settled in the tops of neigh- 

 boring trees, and earnestly discussed the probable nature of the object half- 

 concealed under a camera cloth. Finally they gave it up and withdrew, as I 

 supposed. It seems that one old fellow was not satisfied, for as I ventured at 

 last to shift ever so little 

 from my strained posi- 

 tion, he set up a derisive 

 c( Ca-a-a-w" from a branch 

 over my head as who 

 should say, "Aw, ye can't 

 fool me. Y're just a 

 ma-a-a-n" and flapped 

 away in tlisgust. 



The final Crow philol- 

 ogy also is still unwritten. 

 The Corvine tongue would 

 be worthy the attention of 

 Professor Garner were it 

 not for the fact that exple- 

 tives preponderate. 



Space fails to describe 

 the elaborate structure of 

 Crow society, to tell of the 

 military and pedagogical 

 systems which they en- 

 force, of the courts of justice and penal institutions which they maintain, 

 of the vigilantes who visit vengeance upon evil-minded owls and other offend- 

 ers, or even of the games which they play, tag, hide-and-seek, blind-man's 

 buff and pull-away, but a word must be spared for that most serious busi- 

 ness of life, nesting. 



A typical Crow's nest is a very substantial affair, as our illustration 

 shows. Upon a basis of coarse sticks a mat of dried leaves, grasses, bark- 

 strips and dirt, or mud, is impressed. The deep, rounded bowl thus formed 

 is carefully lined with strips of grape-vine bark, twine, horse-hair, wool and 



Columbus. Photo by the Author. 



CROW'S NEST IN BEECH TREE. 



