154 BEACH GRASS 



in the neighborhood. The dead crow was a 

 male of normal size, as shown by measurements, 

 its plumage was in good condition and it showed 

 every evidence of perfect health. No injury 

 could be found anywhere — there was no sign of 

 hemorrhage under the skin, in the abdominal 

 cavity or in the skull. Fat was present in con- 

 siderable amount, especially about the viscera. 



In order to finish the story it may be recorded 

 here that by the forcible bending down of the 

 top of the slender ash so that the captive crow 

 could be reached from another tree this unfor- 

 tunate bird (of its sex I am ignorant) was re- 

 leased only to die on the following day. I shall 

 not attempt to answer the question as to the 

 cause of the death of the crow whose autopsy I 

 have related, but one is tempted to say that he 

 died of grief for the captive one. 



On relating the case to the late Mr. William 

 Brewster, he told me of a guinea fowl and an 

 Egyptian goose that he had kept together from 

 their hatching out. Having occasion to put 

 chem in separate enclosures, he found that they 

 both refused to eat and were constantly butting 



