A NATURALIST. 117 



No. XII. 



HAD I succeeded in obtaining some living crows, 

 they were to be employed in the following manner : 

 After having made a sort of concealment of brush- 

 wood within good gun-shot distance, the crows were 

 to be fastened by their wings on their backs between 

 two pegs, yet not so closely as to prevent them from 

 fluttering or struggling. The other crows, who are 

 always very inquisitive where their species is in any 

 trouble, were expected to light down near the cap- 

 tives, and the latter would certainly seize the first 

 that came near enough with their claws, and hold on 

 pertinaciously. This would have produced fighting 

 and screaming in abundance, and the whole flock 

 might gradually be so drawn into the fray, as to 

 allow many opportunities of discharging the guns 

 upon them with full effect. This I have often ob- 

 served that when a quarrel or fight took place in a 

 large flock or gang of crows (a circumstance by no 

 means infrequent), it seemed soon to extend to the 

 whole; and during the continuance of their anger 

 all the usual caution of their nature appeared to be 

 forgotten, allowing themselves at such times to be 

 approached closely; and, regardless of men, fire- 

 arms, or the fall of their companions, continu- 

 ing their wrangling with rancorous obstinacy. A 

 similar disposition may be produced among them 



