Correspondents and Critics. 289 



crow talketh unto crow and take counsel to- 

 gether. There is no reason why this should not 

 be the case ; there is abundant evidence point- 

 ing in that direction, but no actual demonstration 

 has taken place. Probably none can be had, 

 and we must be content with inferential inter- 

 pretation. This is not as useless as has been 

 claimed, and is readily set aside when a mathe- 

 matical demonstration is forthcoming. Long 

 association with living birds results in acquiring 

 impressions that are far worthier of credence 

 than the theories of holiday excursionist bird- 

 men ; and the insulting charge of " investing 

 birds with imaginary attributes" is silly beyond 

 comparison, but not surprising considering its 

 source. The farmer that has had to battle with 

 crows and purple grackles and outwit the cun- 

 ning of a pigeon-hawk has interpreted these 

 birds' mental status with a higher average of 

 correctness than any professional ornithologist 

 possibly could do. The farmer reaches the goal 

 of reasonable recognition without having any 

 such intention ; he is taught without a desire to 

 be informed, and with freedom from theoretical 

 bias comes proportionate certainty. He is con- 



