No. 4.] DECREASE OF BIRDS. 501 



many times." (Henry N. Smith, South Sudbury, Middlesex 

 County.) 



"I have many times seen crows in the act of robbing 



v O 



birds' nests." (Fred H. Kennard, Brookline, Norfolk 

 County. ) 



"I, and an absolutely trustworthy friend, have on several 

 occasions seen crows carrying young birds away, though we 

 have been unable to identify the victims. Last June a robin's 

 nest near my house was despoiled by crows, and three young 

 birds were taken ; the fourth fell to the ground." (Emily 

 B. Adams, Springfield, Hampden County.) 



"This bird does more damage to the farmer than almost 

 all other birds. He deliberately kills our young song birds, 

 our insect-eating birds. He has been seen to go through 

 our grove of maple trees, each side of the highway, destroy- 

 ing the nests and young birds. Our village is well provided 

 with shade trees, and nearly every tree is occupied by one 

 or more birds' nests, mostly robins, with many smaller birds ; 

 and in the woods outside we always have plenty of crows. 

 In the nesting season, early in the morning, from half-past 

 3 to 5, you will find plenty of crows hunting the trees for 

 nests, and it is always a still hunt. I make it a point to 

 look after them at this season, and have shot quite a number 

 of them with both eggs and young birds in their possession. 

 One morning I shot one from my door with a young robin, 

 two-thirds grown, in his bill. There are two or three others 

 here that I have interested in protecting the birds, so that 

 we manage to have some of them, and make it rather hot 

 for the crows." ("VT. J. Cross, Becket, Berkshire County.) 



"The crows gather in quantities about the maple trees 

 lining the highway, and fight our robins, often destroying 

 the old bird, and then destroying the eggs or young ; also 

 the chipping sparrow. Then, again, they attack our red- 

 winged blackbirds' nests. The crow is well aware who has 

 the gun, and makes his visits early, about 3.30 A.M., as soon 

 as signs of life appear. He is out when no gun is at hand. 

 This is our greatest enemy to song birds, and a bounty 

 ought to be placed on him." (Edgar C. Clark, Wilbraham, 

 Hampden County.) 



