DOUBTFUL CHARACTERS 109 



enough. As a matter of course, a lot die off at 

 times. If a murrain seized on any of the flocks, 

 then the crows fairly revelled in the pest ; in- 

 deed, when the murrain was about, the news 

 soon spread in some mysterious manner to all 

 the pairs of crows for a long distance that had 

 up to that time taking into consideration the 

 inherent rascality of their nature been trying 

 to get for themselves a comparatively honest 

 living. When the lambs were out, then they 

 rejoiced again ; for sheep are the most helpless 

 creatures at times, and if matters go a little 

 bit crooked, even under the most favour- 

 able circumstances, they require looking after. 

 And that lot of black watchers looked after 

 them in their own fashion ; to all intents and 

 purposes they acted like ravens, only a little 

 more so any unpleasant details may be well 

 spared. 



Directly matters got better the company 

 separated, leaving a clear field for the home 

 pairs to work over. 



Kept as a pet, the carrion crow is intelligent 

 and amusing ; but, like all the members of his 

 family, he will, if the chance offers, steal any 

 article that may take his fancy, and hide it in 

 the most clever manner. If the members of 



