14 



AMERICAN CROW 



grasshoppers, tent-caterpillars, May beetles, and 

 other pests that their service in destroying inju- 

 rious insects can hardly be overestimated. When 

 gypsy moths are stripping the woods of their 

 foliage, the old Crows often take their young to 

 feed on them ; besides this, they kill so many 

 field-mice, rabbits, and other harmful rodents 

 that, apart from their good offices as scavengers, 

 they prove themselves most valuable farm hands. 

 Some farmers appreciate this, and, when not 

 tarring the corn, take the trouble to feed the 

 birds old corn during the time when they would be 

 pulling up the young sprouts, 

 for they realize that the work- 

 man is worthy of his hire, and 

 would no more think of shoot- 

 ing Crows than horses and cows 

 because they demand grain in 

 in return for their work. 



Though the Crow is of espe- 

 cial interest to the farmer, he 

 is of still greater interest to the 

 bird student ; for he is one of 

 the drollest, most intelligent, 

 and individual of birds. His 

 sedate walk, his gestures and 

 conversation, proclaim him a 

 bird of originality and reflection, who will repay 

 our closest study. He is sure to be discovered 

 in peculiar pursuits. Doctor Mearns found him 



FIG. 4. 

 Footprint of Crow. 



