172 CROW. 



the latter are seldom observed in that country. In travelling 

 from Nashville to Natchez, a distance of four hundred and sev- 

 enty miles, I saw few or no Crows, but Ravens frequently, and 

 Vultures in great numbers. 



The usual breeding time of the Crow, in Pennsylvania, is in 

 March, April, and May, during which season they are dispers- 

 ed over the woods in pairs, and roost in the neighbourhood of 

 the tree they have selected for their nest. About the middle of 

 March they begin to build, generally choosing a high tree; 

 though I have also known them prefer a middle sized cedar. 

 One of their nests, now before me, is formed externally of sticks, 

 wet moss, thin bark mixed with mossy earth, and lined with 

 large quantities of horse hair, to the amount of more than half 

 a pound, some cow hair, and some wool, forming a very soft and 

 elastic bed. The eggs are four, of a pale green colour, marked 

 with numerous specks and blotches of olive. 



During this interesting season, the male is extremely watch- 

 ful, making frequent excursions of half a mile or so in circuit, 

 to reconnoitre; and the instant he observes a person approaching, 

 he gives the alarm, when both male and female retire to a dis- 

 tance, till the intruder has gone past. He also regularly carries 

 food to his mate while she is sitting; occasionally relieves her; 

 and when she returns, again resigns up his post. At this time 

 also, as well as until the young are able to fly, they preserve 

 uncommon silence, that their retreat may not be suspected. 



It is in the month of May, and until the middle of June, that 

 the Crow is most destructive to the corn-fields, digging up the 

 newly planted grains of maize, pulling up by the roots those 

 that have begun to vegetate, and thus frequently obliging the 

 farmer to replant, or lose the benefit of the soil; and this 

 sometimes twice, and even three times, occasioning a consider- 

 able additional expense and inequality of harvest. No mercy is 

 now shown him. The myriads of worms, moles, mice, caterpil- 

 lars, grubs and beetles, which he has destroyed, are altogether 

 overlooked on these occasions. Detected in robbing the hens' 

 nests, pulling up the corn, and killing the young chickens, he 



