178 CROW. 



thief and hoarder of curiosities, hiding in holes, corners and 

 crevices, every loose article he can carry off, particularly small 

 pieces of metal, corn, bread, and food of all kinds; is fond of 

 the society of his master, and will know him even after a long 

 absence; of which the following is a remarkable instance, and 

 may be relied on as a fact. A very worthy gentleman, now liv- 

 ing in the Gennesee country, but who, at the time alluded to, 

 resided on the Delaware, a few miles below Easton, had raised 

 a Crow, with whose tricks and society he used frequently to 

 amuse himself. This Crow lived long in the family; but at 

 length disappeared, having, as was then supposed, been shot 

 by some vagrant gunner, or destroyed by accident. About ele- 

 ven months after this, as the gentleman, one morning, in com- 

 pany with several others, was standing on the river shore, a 

 number of Crows happening to pass by, one of them left the 

 flock, and flying directly towards the company, alighted on the 

 gentleman's shoulder, and began to gabble away with great vo- 

 lubility, as one long absent friend naturally enough does on 

 meeting with another. On recovering from his surprise, the 

 gentleman instantly recognised his old acquaintance; and en- 

 deavoured by several civil but sly manoeuvres to lay hold of 

 him; but the Crow, not altogether relishing quite so much fa- 

 miliarity, having now had a taste of the sweets of liberty, cau- 

 tiously eluded all his attempts; and suddenly glancing his eye 

 on his distant companions, mounted in the air after them, soon 

 overtook and mingled with them, and was never afterward seen 

 to return. 



The habits of the Crow, in his native state, are so generally 

 known, as to require little further illustration. His watchful- 

 ness, and jealous sagacity in distinguishing a person with a gun, 

 are notorious to every one. In spring, when he makes his ap- 

 pearance among the groves and low thickets, the whole feath- 

 ered songsters are instantly alarmed, well knowing the depre- 

 dations and murders he commits on their nests, eggs and young. 

 Few of them, however, have the courage to attack him, except 

 the King-bird, who on these occasions teases and pursues him 



