THE CROWS. I 23 



Though Crows are not gregarious, like Rooks, 

 I am certain there is such a thing as Crow society, 

 with its accepted rules of propriety and etiquette. 

 When two Crows quarrel, the neighbours always 

 arbitrate, and I have seen them helping the weaker 

 party by pulling off the other. They hold assemblies, 

 which certainly have a definite common purpose. We 

 cannot guess what that purpose is, but how should 

 we ? Could any intelligent Crow guess the purpose of 

 a meeting of our Municipal Corporation? Sometimes 

 also they combine clamorously to punish some 

 member of the community. I believe this is for an 

 offence against propriety. Crows are great sticklers 

 for propriety. 



