25 



by the pangs of hunger. In winter, when the snow lies deep on 

 the ground and food is scarce, crows will become quite fearless in 

 their approach to carrion. As a rule, however, crows when feed- 

 ing keep one or more sentinels posted on some high tree or other 

 point of vantage, to warn all within hearing of the approach of any 

 possible enemy, and the warning of the sentinel is understood and 

 heeded by all the crows in the vicinity. 



The intelligence of crows, like that of men, varies with individ- 

 uals. Young birds, who when they first leave the nest are rather 

 incautious, soon acquire the habits of caution taught them by ex- 

 perience and the warning cries of their elders. 



All farmers know how difficult it is to entrap crows. Indeed, 

 they are so suspicious of a trap that any contrivance which to their 

 eyes resembles a trap will sometimes keep them away from corn. 



Migration. 



The crow as a species is a resident in this Commonwealth 

 throughout the entire year. It is, however, quite migratory in its 

 habits. There are times of general migration towards the south 

 in the fall aud toward the north again in the spring. During the 

 fall and winter migrations thousands of crows may be seen troop- 

 ing south or in the direction of the sea-coasts and river valleys. 

 It is probable that the crows that remain with us in winter are 

 migrants from lands farther north. The crows appear to desert en- 

 tirely some of the more northern and western portions of the State 

 during the season of the greatest cold and snow. Mr. C. E, Bailey 

 reports that in ordinary seasons crows leave the viciuity of Win- 

 chendon, Mass., which is near the New Hampshire line, but that 

 they are often found further south in Hubbardston and Princeton. 



Mr. A. H. Kirkland writes tliat, from observations covering five 

 or six years, and from conversation with hunters, he has learned 

 that during the coldest weather crows disappear from some of tl;e 

 high lands in the western part of the State. The cause of crow 

 migrations appears to be principally a scarcity of food. Crows re- 

 main even in Winchendon in seasons when the beech nuts are plen- 

 tiful on the trees or when carrion is to be found. They are also 

 found along the Connecticut valley throughout the entire winter, 

 where, according to Mr. Kirkland, they assemble in great flocks in 

 bare spots on the meadows, and catch field mice. These flocks 

 appear to range about twelve or fifteen miles from the river, and 

 in warm spells spread out still farther. At Mr. Kirkland's home, 

 in Huntington, at an altitude of twelve hundred feet, and in the 

 adjacent towns of Chester, Blandford and Chesterfield, the crows 

 are said to remain during mild winters, roosting in hemlock forests. 



