Generalship in Crows 185 



those of its victims, that cases of this kind, though from 

 time to time reported, must be very rare. I once knew 

 a Crow to be dragged into the water and drowned by 

 a tame duck in defence of her young ; but a Grouse, or 

 even a pair of them, are no match, either in strength or 

 cunning, for an old crow. Twice in the same season, 

 on these Welsh moors, I saw a Crow make determined 

 attacks on a brood of young Grouse. On each occasion 

 both parents made a plucky defence ; but, as just remarked, 

 a Grouse has no skill in generalship to make it the equal 

 of a Crow, and in the absence of outside interference the 

 result is a foregone conclusion. In one case 1 actually saw 

 a chick carried off, and the like result would undoubtedly 

 have happened in the other, but for the timely arrival of a 

 keeper upon the scene. In each case very similar tactics 

 were pursued. The Crow, in beating over the heather, 

 discovered the young Grouse, and lowering its flight, 

 sailed close over them. Each of the old Grouse uttered 

 notes of alarm, while the cock jumped up in the direction 

 of the intruder, just as an angry cock Partridge may often 

 be seen to do at a passing Lapwing. The Crow settled a 

 few yards off, and the cock instantly ran at him with 

 considerable bluster. The Crow flew a few steps further 

 followed by the Grouse, running. The hen, meanwhile, 

 was calling her brood to shelter ; and presently, when the 

 cock again charged him, the Crow made a dash at her. 

 Great commotion followed ; both Grouse, screaming angrily, 

 jumping and running at him, the brood in the mean- 

 time being considerably scattered. The Crow retreated 

 as before, now followed by both birds, and having 

 drawn them a little distance away from the young ones, 

 suddenly flew at the latter and bore one off in his bill. 

 Perhaps the feints may sometimes be a little more pro- 

 longed, but the tactics adopted are always the same. The 

 Crow seems to understand that time is on his side, and 

 never to be in the least flustered. Perhaps he rather 

 enjoys the sport ; I have heard him give vent to a harsh 

 " craw " or two, but generally he has the sense to keep 

 silent, and no doubt he has always a weather eye wide 



