Sec. 11.] BIRDS. 181 



have not tlio least doubt but our town was taxed §500 last year to feed 

 crows." 



Upon this we simply remark : If " Farmer's Boy" has a breed of crows 

 about him that really catch turkeys, goslings, etc., and dig potatoes, he is 

 svclcome to be their enemy. Our crows are of another sort. But is our 

 " boy" sure that he " can tell a hawk from a hernshaw ?" Because the 

 raven, though one of the rnrviis fiunily, is not a crow, as we understand the 

 word ; and it is just possible that the bird that catches turkeys and other 

 birds is a raven. 



Wc have another opinion, coming from a citizen of Montgomeiy County, 

 Penn. He says : 



" Leaving your crows under your protection, to enjoy their excellent repu- 

 tations, M'o desire to say a word on the character of ours. That we have 

 real, veritable crows that catch young chickens, is a 'fixed fact,' M'ell estab- 

 lished. The present season, notwithstanding our care, we lost by them, I 

 suppose, from ten to fifteen, and avoided the loss of others only by the use 

 of gunpowder. Our experience on this subject, I may add, is that of many 

 others. This thing, then, our ' breed' of crows do, and also carry off spoiled 

 eggs that may be thrown away, birds' eggs, etc. In reference to ducks and 

 goslings, I am imable to speak, but have no reason to believe that they are 

 distasteful, or that they do not catch them. 



"They love, it ajipears, a variety. A near and reliable neighbor informs 

 me that quite recently he saw one of our tril)e in hot pursuit of a rabbit, 

 which, after sundry dodgings, secreted itself under the fence. So you see 

 New York crows differ from ours, and, I incline to think, from most other 

 crows." 



Here is another opinion. This comes from Thcron "Wales, Windham, 

 Portage County, Ohio. He says, in relation to our remarks upon the state- 

 ment of " Fanner's Boy :" 



"I conclude you received it as doul)tful. I can add testimony in part to 

 the same effect. I have seen the crow alight into the nest of the robin and 

 carry away the young birds to feed their own young. They are passionately 

 fond of the eggs of other birds, and I have cauglit them in tra]is with egg- 

 shells. Hunters of the wild turkey can testify to the hatred between the 

 crow and the gobblers. From the frequent presence of the crow over the 

 gobbling turkey, it appears they watcli for their nests. At least every cry 

 of the crow is answered defiantly by tiie turkey, and tlius I have often been 

 led to approach the turkey and shoot him. "Wliilc we were living upon the 

 Berkshire ITills, in ^rassachu.eetts, it was not uiifrequent that our neighbors' 

 and our own young landis had their eyes picked out by tiie early returning 

 crows in the spring. But I do not say these things for the sake of engaging 

 in an exterminating war upon them. All things were created for some wise 

 purpose. Every creature luis in nature its enemy and destroyer, and every 

 attempt on the part of man to give preponderance to one part of the wild 

 creation over another, will fail. Civilization will of necessity drive away 



