No. 4.] THE CROW IN MASSACHUSETTS. 293 



cateri)illars have stripped the trees, but they are frequently 

 seen t'eedinir in woods in localities where larvie are not so 

 plentiful, and undoul)tedly pick up many species during the 

 season when the various caterpillars are found upon the 

 trees. On one occasion Mr. Mosher saw a crow search out 

 and eat four forest tent caterpillars (Ch'sioeamjxi sylvalica), 

 after which it moved from tree to tree apparently engaged 

 in the same occupation. 



If the habits of the crow^ in Massachusetts are not excep- 

 tional, then it must be admitted that the crow obtains much 

 insect food from trees during a portion of the summer. 

 This habit of caterpillar eating must be set down to the 

 credit of the crow in this region, and is certainly one strong 

 point in its favor. 



The Protection of Crops. 

 It would seem that in Massachusetts greater injury is done 

 by the crow to the corn crop than to any other, and it has 

 been a time-honored custom to place effigies supposed to 

 represent the human fio-ure, or danglino; strings, dead crows 

 or other " scarecrows " in corn fields. Though these arti- 

 fices often keep crows away from corn, they do not always 

 succeed in accomplishing the object, and their use is not to 

 be generally recommended, even if successful ; for by driv- 

 ing the crows away from corn fields the farmer loses their 

 services as a destroyer of noxious insects. Fields of corn 

 located at a distance from farm l)uiklings and those near 

 woods in which the crow nests are likely to suffer most" 

 if unprotected. If the crows can be prevented from attack- 

 ing the corn when first planted or when it first ap})ears 

 above the surface, there seems little danger that they will 

 feed on the corn at all. For many years farmers have 

 be^a in the haliit of soaking their seed corn in Avater, 

 to cause it to germinate quickly, and then smearing it 

 with tar. The taste of tar is known to be repugnant to 

 crows and l)lackbirds, and will prevent them from pull- 

 ing the corn ; for when they have pulled a few stalks they 

 apparently conclude that all the corn is tainted in the 

 same way, and will take no more from that field. The 

 receipt commonly used is to place ;i hnlf bushel or more of 



