24 THE CROW FAMILY 



scraps. The crows took only the latter, to which they did ample 

 justice. Finally an unpoisoned egg was ingeniously fitted as bait to 

 a small trap, which was concealed with grass. One crow forgot its 

 caution so far as to let itself be caught alive by its beak. But its 

 example was not followed. Its successors were, in fact, left in posses- 

 sion of the field, their robberies being kept within such limits as 

 were possible. 1 



But crows, whether black or grey, are, like human beings, equal 

 neither in experience nor in the ability to profit by it or dispense with 

 it. Many fall easy victims to poisoned eggs or flesh, others are shot 

 in some countries by the device of setting up a captive or dummy 

 eagle-owl, the hatred of the crows for this enemy of their race being 

 so great that, though not venturing to close quarters, they rage round 

 it regardless of all other danger, even when the gun is already 

 decimating their ranks. 



Though undoubtedly pests, it must not be supposed that the 

 hooded- and carrion-crow are wholly harmful. They destroy large 

 numbers of small rodents and also injurious insects, for it is on these 

 and worms that the young are chiefly fed. 



Both species begin preparing for their family duties at least a 

 month later than the raven. Not enough is known about the court- 

 ship of either to enable us to make a comparison. The fanning of 

 the tail and the drooping wings play, of course, their part, the 

 former being with many species a favourite mode of expressing 

 emotions, whether amorous or other. Yarious fantastic mid-air 

 evolutions, amorous bufferings, and also combats are indulged 

 in. The latter element in the proceedings does not, of course, 

 invalidate the generally accepted belief that the two species pair 

 for life, for there are each year the young birds and also a 

 number of old bachelors and spinsters willing and even anxious 

 to assume the bonds. That a large number of these have, 

 nevertheless, to remain unmated throughout the breeding season 



1 Zoologisches Garten, 1876, 153-9. 



