The Crow in Its Relation to Agriculture. 19 



in keeping such baits away from domestic animals is great ; they may 

 be used to best advantage in winter, when crows are hard pressed for 

 food. 



TRAPPING. 



Trapping at times has brought relief where other methods have 

 failed. No wholesale reductions in the number of crows has ever 

 been accomplished by this method, but when a few birds have been 

 trapped and their dead bodies have been left exposed in the fields, 

 their relatives are inclined to shun the immediate vicinity. Crows 

 have been secured mainly in steel traps carefully baited with hens' 

 eggs. 



SHOOTING. 



The unusual wariness of the crow has limited the effectiveness of 

 firearms in reducing its numbers. However, these birds are inclined 

 to shun those areas where the shotgun is frequently used. The use 

 of crow decoys and crow calls has been resorted to with such success 

 in attracting the birds within gunshot that these articles are now 

 placed on sale by extensive dealers in sporting goods. A mounted 

 specimen of an owl placed in a conspicuous position and within easy 

 gunshot of the concealed hunter has also been used successfully in 

 attracting numbers of crows to a point where they can be shot. 



In eradicating objectionable winter roosts of crows, attacks on 

 several successive nights by a number of men with firearms will 

 frequently cause the birds to move on. Cartridges loaded with 

 black powder are better than those containing smokeless, as the re- 

 port is more deafening. When once a roost has been removed, 

 vigilance must be employed for some time thereafter to keep it from 

 being reestablished. In places where the discharge of firearms was 

 inadvisable, Roman candles shot among the roosting birds have 

 brought about the desired results, and on one occasion bunches of 

 firecrackers thrown up into the tree tops caused the crows to seek a 

 more peaceful community. 



DESTROYING NESTS. 



In sections where woodlands are close to farmyards containing 

 exposed nests and young chicks, the destruction of a few crows' 

 nests will greatly lessen depredations on poultry. The success of 

 this measure lies in the fact that most of the crow's raids on the 

 poultry yard are prompted by its desire to secure food for its young. 



SUMMARY. 



The crow is a bird whose size, ability to survive under diverse en- 

 vironments, and almost omnivorous food habits make it capable of 

 doing both serious harm and extensive good. The influence of the race 

 as a whole for good and harm appears to be about equal. Local 



