THE CROWS 97 



could not have known of the nest without looking round 

 the place. But the crow is a keen observer, and has not 

 the least necessity to search for the nest. 



He merely keeps a watch on the motions of the old 

 birds of the place, and knows at once by their flight 

 being so continually directed to one spot that there their 

 treasure lies. He and his companion may come very 

 early in the morning summer mornings are bright as 

 noonday long before the earliest gardener is abroad 

 or they may come in the dusk of the evening. Crows 

 are not so particular in retiring regularly to roost as 

 the rook. 



The furze and copse frequented by the pair which I 

 found attacking the missel-thrushes are situate at the 

 edge of extensive arable fields. In these, though not 

 overlooked by the gamekeepers, there is a good deal of 

 game which is preserved by the tenants of the farm. 

 After the bitter winter and wet summer of 1879, there 

 was a complaint, too well founded, that the partridges 

 were diminished in numbers. But the crows were not. 

 There were as many of them as ever. When there 

 were many partridges the loss of a few eggs or chicks 

 was not so important. But when there are but few, 

 every egg or chick destroyed retards the re-stocking of 

 the fields. 



The existence of so many crows all round London is, 

 in short, a constant check upon the game. The belt 

 of land immediately outside the houses, and lying be- 

 tween them and the plantations which are preserved, is 

 the crow's reserve, where he hunts in security. He is so 

 safe that he has almost lost all dread of man, and his 

 motions can be observed without trouble. The ash- 

 heap at the corner of the furze, besides the crows, 

 became the resort of rats, whose holes were so thick in 



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