38 



selves from the attacks of the common enemy. The jays seldom 

 were able to get a robin's egg if there was a robin within sight. 

 In such a case the alarm was given, and the jay was immediately 

 attacked by robins. Both robins and jays bred all about, and 

 fights between the two species were of daily occurrence. Usu- 

 ally the robins were engaged in driving the jays away from 

 robins' nests, but occasionally the jays seemed to be defending 

 their own nests from the robins. The robins vigorously pro- 

 tested whenever a stealthy crow appeared. Nevertheless, many 

 of the robins' eggs were destroyed. The present year (1902) 

 the crows have become so emboldened by their immunity from 

 harm that they have frequented the farm more than ever, so that 

 now even the blue jays find it difficult to raise young. Young 

 robins and jays have been comparatively scarce. The crows 

 are becoming more bold, and the situation grows worse as time 

 passes. There is no time here to discuss the economic position 

 of the crow, or to enlarge upon the services of the jay as an insect 

 destroyer; the Board has already received my reports on these 

 matters. It is enough to say here that, if we wish to protect 

 our smaller birds and increase their numbers, both crow and 

 jay must be kept within bounds. 



Our Massachusetts laws do not protect these birds; in this 

 they are wise. The beauty and grace of the jay cannot com- 

 pensate us for the loss of many other beautiful and useful birds; 

 and, while the crow has its place, and is at times very valuable 

 to the farmer, it can never fill the place about the farmyard and 

 orchard which is now so well filled by the robins, bluebirds, 

 sparrows, warblers, vireos, wrens and thrushes. Crows and 

 jays, like all creatures of omnivorous habits, are likely to become 

 pests wherever they become unduly numerous. Although the 

 crow has many enemies, there are few crafty or powerful enough 

 to destroy him. The caution and intelligence of the crow are 

 proverbial. Crows, by the strength of their combined numbers, 

 are able to defy even the eagle. They have really only one 

 effective enemy besides man, and that is the great horned owl. 

 Years ago, while studying crow roosts in Worcester County, I 

 found that something was killing crows about these roosts. The 

 remains consisted mainly of feathers, nearly the entire crow 

 having been devoured in each case. After the first fresh snow- 



