THE CROW 



know all about the tides. If the tide is out 

 in the morning they seek the clam-flats with- 

 out a report from a scout. At this early hour 

 they make the flight without posting sentinels. 

 If it is high water they go down to the sea- 

 shore to see what the tide has brought in. 



It is generally supposed that crows utter 

 but one note, or cry, a loud caw. The fact 

 is the crow language is not confined to one 

 note, for " ker " is heard as frequently as 

 " caw." 



The cries of the crow can be modulated to 

 express many of the feelings common to the 

 human voice. 



In the old times, when I killed crows right 

 and left, I often threw dead birds into my 

 cabin dooryard. If a crow passed over, his 

 sharp eyes always discovered his dead com- 

 rades, and he would immediately circle above 

 the bodies, repeating several times a cry, 

 " ker-r-r-r," which most vjvidly expressed 

 horror and indignation. 



155 



