The American Crow 21 



Mother's warning had come to pass we were to be carried 

 away ! And how we did run to the house and call for her help ! 



I have said that the crow called, "caw, caw." By many 

 this is believed to be their only call. In fact, however, this 

 is varied much and of this I have fully convinced myself by 

 observation. Mr. Abbott in A Naturalist's Rambles About 

 Home says that they have twenty-seven distinct calls or 

 utterances, each really distinguishable from the other, and 

 each having an unmistakable connection with a certain class 

 of actions; some of which as for instance, the many different 

 notes of the brooding birds, are heard only at certain seasons. 



It is certainly true that the crow is one of the most in- 

 telligent of our birds. Instances of the exercise of much cun- 

 ning and forethought on their part are innumerable. 



"The crow is rather shy, 

 With a watchful eye 

 For danger coming nigh, 



And any one 



Who bears a gun 

 He's pretty sure to spy. 



"That he's selfish, we admit, 

 And he has a lot of grit, 

 And on favor not a bit 



Does he depend; 



Without a friend, 

 He must live by mother-wit." 



And by this mother-wit they have managed to outwit 

 man, and instead of being exterminated as other birds have 

 been, they have gradually increased so that today there are 

 more crows than were ever before in this country. 



