No. 4.] THE CROW IN MASSACHUSETTS. 281 



ono to investigate who can devote the necessary time to the 

 subject.* 



The female is said to perform the duties of incubation, 

 but the male bird is a gallant defender and a good provider, 

 exhibiting qualities which arc always commendable in the 

 father of a family. As soon as the young are able to leave 

 the nest, they are sustained, watched, guarded, admonished 

 and taught by both parents, and the family remains together 

 as long as the young require any attention. 



Digestive Capacity of the Crow. 



To obtain a delinite understanding of the amount of good 

 or harm the crow is capable of doing, it is essential to know 

 what amount of food it is obliged to consume in order to 

 maintain its strength. Mr. E. A. Samuels says that he has 

 kept specimens in captivity, and has, by actual observation, 

 proved that at least eight ounces of animal food, such as 

 frogs, fish, etc., are eaten daily by them.f 



To determine how much food the fledged young require, 

 the writer had two young crows confined in a large pen or 

 cage. These crows were kept and fed until September 2, 

 when one was accidentally killed. The other was kept until 

 September 14. These crows were fed animal and vegetable 

 food in about equal proportions, and the amount of each 

 eaten by them was surprising. Either appeared to be eaten 

 with nearly equal avidity, although at times a distinct pref- 

 erence was shown for animal food. The animal food con- 

 sisted of the larger insects, such as grasshopper:., crickets, 

 borers and beetles ; also of snakes, frogs, mice and meat. 

 The vegetable food consisted largely of tomatoes and green 

 corn. It soon became evident that the crows were not being 

 led suflSciently, as they did not thrive. 



From August 21 until their death the crows were each 

 weighed daily, and the food given to them was also weighed. 

 On September 2 they were each weighed, the larger weighing 

 sixteen and one-half ounces and the smaller fifteen ounces. 



• Mr. C. J. Maynard, in his book entitled " The Birds of Eastern North America" 

 (1896), says, on page 456, that sometimes three crows are engaged in building one 

 nest, and that all three will remain about it until the eggs are hatched. 



t E. A. Samuels, " Birds of New England," page 359. 



