148 BEACH GRASS 



ary I visited the roost at 9 p. m., a time when 

 all well regulated crows should, I had supposed, 

 be sound asleep. As I approached the roost, 

 much to my surprise, I heard distant sleepy cries 

 like those of young herons, and when I reached 

 the edge of the roosting trees there was a tumul- 

 tuous rush and bustle of crows flying from tree 

 to tree and overhead. Strain my eyes as I would 

 only occasionally could I catch sight of a black 

 form, although the air was brilliant with the 

 moonlight and the reflection from the snow. I 

 turned back at once as I had no desire to disturb 

 the birds' slumbers but it was evident that many, 

 even at this later hour, had not settled down for 

 the night. 



The morning flight from the roost takes less 

 time than the evening return. As I approached 

 it in the semi-darkness at 6.25 a. m., on Janu- 

 ary 7, a distant cawing could be heard and a min- 

 ute later nine crows were seen flying off to the 

 south, and three minutes later, nine went off to 

 the west. At half-past six, after a great uproar 

 of caws and uks^ occasional rattles and wailing 

 ahhhs^ a broad stream boiled up from the roosting 



