124 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



of the party formed. Sometimes the great mass of 

 shooters were hired for the night, and received no 

 share of scalps, having their ammunition provided 

 by the employers : other parties were formed of 

 friends and neighbours, who clubbed for the ammu- 

 nition, and shared equally in the result. 



During hard winters the crows suffer greatly, and 

 perish in considerable numbers from hunger. When 

 starved severely, the poor wretches will swallow bits 

 of leather, rope, rags, in short, anything that appears 

 to promise the slightest relief. Multitudes belonging 

 to the Bristol roost perished during the winter of 

 1828-9 from this cause. All the water-courses were 

 solidly frozen, and it was distressing to observe these 

 starvelings every morning winging their weary way 

 towards the shores of the sea, in hopes of food, and 

 again toiling homewards in the afternoon, apparently 

 scarce able to fly. 



In speaking of destroying crows, we have never 

 adverted to the use of poison, which in their case is 

 wholly inadmissible, on this account where crows 

 are common, hogs generally run at large, and to 

 poison the crows would equally poison them : the 

 crows would die, and fall to the ground) where they 

 would certainly be eaten by the hogs. 



Crows, when caught young, learn to talk plainly, 

 if pains be taken to repeat certain phrases to them, 

 and they become exceedingly impudent and trouble- 

 some. Like all of their tribe, they will steal and 

 hide silver or other bright objects, of which they 

 can make no possible use. JOHN. 



