174 CROW. 



Towards the close of summer, the parent Crows, with their 

 new families, forsaking their solitary lodgings, collect together, 

 as if by previous agreement, when evening approaches. About 

 an hour before sunset, they are first observed, flying somewhat 

 in Indian file, in one direction, at a short height above the tops 

 of the trees, silent and steady, keeping the general curvature of 

 the ground, continuing to pass sometimes till after sunset, so 

 that the whole line of march would extend for many miles. 

 This circumstance, so familiar and picturesque, has not been 

 overlooked by the poets, in their descriptions of a rural even- 

 ing. Burns, in a single line, has finely sketched it 



" The black'ning train of Craws to their repose." 



The most noted Crow-roost with which I am acquainted is 

 near Newcastle, on an island in the Delaware. It is there known 

 by the name of the Pea-Patch, and is a low flat alluvial spot, 

 of a few acres, elevated but a little above high- water mark, and 

 covered with a thick growth of reeds. This appears to be the 



him of his expected regale. I confess that the scene before me was altogether 

 novel and surprising. I am but little conversant with natural history 5 but I 

 had always understood, that the depredations of the Owl were confined to the 

 smaller birds, and animals of the lesser kind; such as mice, young rabbits, &c. 

 and that he obtained his prey rather by fraud and stratagem, than by open 

 rapacity and violence. I was the more confirmed in this belief, from the recol- 

 lection of a passage in Macbeth, which now forcibly recurred to my mem- 

 ory. The courtiers of King Duncan are recounting to each other the various 

 prodigies that preceded liis death, and one of them relates to his wondering 

 auditors, that 



* An Eagle, tow'ring in his pride of place, 



* Was, by a mousing Owl, hawk'd at and kill'd.' 



But to resume my relation. That the Owl was the murderer of the unfortu- 

 nate Crow, there could be no doubt. No other bird of prey was in sight; I 

 had not fired my gun since I entered the wood; nor heard any one else shoot: 

 besides, the unequivocal situation in which I found the parties, would have 

 been sufficient before any * twelve good men and true,' or a jury of Crows, 

 to have convicted him of his guilt. It is proper to add, that I avenged the 

 death of the hapless Crow, by a well-aimed shot at the felonious robber, that 

 extended him breathless on the ground. " 



