31 



In summing up the evidence obtained from fill sources Professor 

 Barrows saj-s : "The careful examination of large numbers of 

 stomachs and the critical stud}' of the insect food of the crow may 

 change materially the present aspect of the question ; but, so far 

 as the facts at present known enable a judgment to be formed, the 

 harm which crows do appears to far outweigh the good." * 



A final report on the crow's food is embodied in a pamphlet is- 

 sued by the department in 1895, entitled "The Common Crow of 

 the United States." This report is based upon the examinations 

 of the contents of nine hundred and nine crows' stomachs, and 

 much information gathered from correspondents. 



Most of the material except the insects found in the stomachs 

 was examined by Prof. F. E. L. Beal, assistant ornithologist, and 

 important assistance was also i-endered by Dr. A. K. Fisher. The 

 insect material was examined and reported on by Mr. E. A. 

 Schwarz. Professor Beal received valuable assistance from Dr. 

 George Vasey, Mr. F. V. Coville and Mr. F. A. Lucas. The 

 names of all these eminent specialists form a sufficient guaranty of 

 the accuracy of the work done. 



In summing up the notes for and against the crow, Dr. Merriam, 

 chief of the Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy, says in liis 

 letter of transmittal : " The most important charges brought against 

 the crow are : (1) that it pulls sprouted corn ; (2) that it injures 

 corn in the milk ; (3) that it destroys cultivated fruit ; and (4) 

 that it feeds on the eggs and young of poultry and wild birds. 

 All of these charges are sustained by the stomach examinations, 

 BO far as the simple fact that crows feed upon the substances 

 named." But Dr. Merriam maintains that the stomach contents 

 showed plainly that a large proportion of the corn eaten is chiefly 

 waste corn ; also that the loss in case of cultivated fruits is trivial, 

 and that the same is true in regard to the eggs and young of poul- 

 try and wild birds. He also says that, as an offset to the bad 

 habits of the crow, it should be credited with the good done in 

 destroying noxious insects and other injurious animals. In sum- 

 ming up the benefits and losses from the crow. Dr. Merriam says : 

 *•' It is clear that the good exceeds the bad, and that the crow is a 

 friend 1-ather than an enemy to the farmer." 



In Massachusetts the chief complaints by farmers in regard to 

 the crow relate to its destruction of corn. It must be admitted 

 that the crow destroys considerable quantities of corn soon after 

 it is planted, either by picking or digging up the corn or by pulling 

 up the young shoots to get at the kernel. We have heard some 



• Annual Report United States Department of Agriculture, Report of the Orui- 

 tbologist and Mammaloglst for the year 1888, page 525. 



