No. 4.] DECREASE OF BIRDS. 499 



more experience, he rates the crow as the most destructive 

 of all the natural enemies of birds. 



Here is another experience from another county : ' ' For 

 the past ten years, during the breeding season of the birds, 

 from the last of May through June and July of each year, 

 I have watched the crows eat the eggs and little birds. I 

 have watched them start at 4 o'clock in the morning, or a 

 little later, and hunt over the shade trees that line the 

 streets for the eggs and young birds, even going into the 

 trees that stand close to the buildings, where people would 

 not think a crow would ever go. This is done, of course, 

 before people rise ; and as soon as any one stirs out they 

 will leave, but will begin the next morning just the same. 

 Any one can plainly see what they are up to. After the 

 breeding season they will not visit the shade trees until the 

 breeding season begins the next year, and then they are 

 ready to follow them up again." (Anson O. Howard, East 

 Northfield, Franklin County.) 



" I have many times seen crows eating robins' eggs, and 

 have also seen them flying from nests with the young birds 

 in their beaks. This was probably food for their own 

 young. I often see them very early in the morning, 

 searching trees near houses where small birds have nests." 

 (Samuel S. Symmes, Winchester, Middlesex County.) 



' ' I have seen crows come to the eaves of a house and 

 take young robins from the nest." (S. F. Stockwell, Au- 

 burn, Worcester County.) 



" Crows are remarkably plentiful here. Have not known 

 a nest of young birds to mature this year. Saw a crow 

 take 3'oung out of nests right by the house." (W. J. 

 Hunter, Lincoln, Middlesex County.) 



"I have seen crows drive birds from the nest, and take 

 and eat whatever was in it, whether young birds or eggs. 

 There is one tall elm tree in particular on the boundaries of 

 our place where I have watched them repeatedly attack the 

 birds and eat the young." (Amelia M. Brastow, Wrentham, 

 Norfolk County.) 



"The crows visit the orchard very early in the morning, 

 usually about sunrise, and after their visit you can find 



