THE WINTER BIRDS. 291 



Hence he is everywhere hunted and persecuted, and 

 the expedients used for his destruction are numerous 

 and revolting to the sensibility. He is outlawed by 

 legislative bodies ; he is hunted with the gun ; he is 

 caught in crow-nets ; he is hoodwinked with bits of paper 

 smeared with birdlime, to which he is attracted by means 

 of a bait ; he is poisoned with grain steeped in hellebore 

 and strychnine ; the reeds in which he roosts are treach- 

 erously set on fire ; he is pinioned by his wings, and placed 

 on his back, and made to grapple his companions who 

 come to his rescue. Like an infidel, he is not allowed 

 the benefit of truth to save his reputation ; and children, 

 after receiving lessons of humanity, are taught to regard 

 the Crow as an unworthy subject, if they were to carry 

 the precepts taught them into practice. Every govern- 

 ment has set a price upon his head, and public sentiment 

 holds him up to execration. 



As an apology for these atrocities his persecutors enu- 

 merate a long catalogue of misdemeanors of which he is 

 guilty. He pillages the cornfields and pulls up the young 

 shoots of maize to obtain the kernels attached to their 

 roots. He destroys the eggs and young of harmless birds 

 which are our favorites ; he purloins fruit from the garden 

 and orchard, and carries off young ducks and chickens from 

 the farm-yard. Beside his mischievous propensities and 

 his habits of thieving, he is accused of deceit and of a 

 depraved disposition. He who would plead for the Crow 

 will not deny the general truth of these accusations, but, 

 on the other hand, would enumerate certain special ben- 

 efits which he confers upon man. 



In the list of services performed by this bird we find 

 many details that should lead us to pause before we con- 

 sent to his destruction. He consumes vast quantities of 

 grubs, worms, and noxious vermin ; he is a valuable scav- 

 enger, clearing the land of offensive masses of decaying 



19 



