A NATURALIST. 103 



No. X. 



AMONG the enemies with which the farmers of a 

 poor or light soil have to contend, I know of none so 

 truly formidable and injurious as the crows, whose 

 numbers, cunning, and audacity can scarcely be 

 appreciated, except by those who have had long- 

 continued and numerous opportunities of observa- 

 tion. Possessed of the most acute senses, and en- 

 dowed by nature with a considerable share of reasoning 

 power, these birds bid defiance to almost all the con- 

 trivances resorted to for their destruction; and when 

 their numbers have accumulated to vast multitudes, 

 which annually occurs, it is scarcely possible to esti- 

 mate the destruction they are capable of effecting. 

 Placed in a situation where every object was sub- 

 jected to close observation, as a source of amuse- 

 ment, it is not surprising that my attention should 

 be drawn to so conspicuous an object as the crow; 

 and having once commenced remarking the pecu- 

 liarities of this bird, I continued to bestow attention 

 upon it during many years, in whatever situation it 

 was met with. The thickly-wooded and well-watered 

 parts of the State of Maryland, as affording them 

 a great abundance of food, and almost entire secu- 

 rity during their breeding season, are especially in- 

 fested by these troublesome creatures, so that at some 

 times of the year they are collected in numbers which 



