272 Old White Wing 



few minutes the leader left the perch, and, flying low 

 until he neared a tall apple tree which stood within 

 a few yards of the barnyard fence, sailed with curved 

 wing to the topmost branch. After this reconnoitring, 

 as all seemed quiet, it was not long before there 

 were three crows in the barnyard feeding on the dead 

 body of a calf. During all this time not a sound in 

 the crow language could be heard. Suddenly a barn 

 door creaked on its hinges, and almost simultaneously 

 came the warning cry of danger from the sentinel and 

 the report of a gun, followed by the death struggle of 

 one of the crows. Immediately the remainder of 

 the flock followed Old White Wing in a retreat to 

 the grove of hemlocks. 



It was during the spring and early summer before 

 my acquaintance with Old White Wing that he had 

 become most notorious. Once he had caught a 

 chicken while the good housewife was feeding the 

 brood. Scarecrows seemed to have no effect upon 

 him; he could read the delusion at a glance, and from 

 the top of one would watch and direct his band 

 while foraging. Poisoned corn was scattered over a 

 field which he and his band had visited scores of 

 times, but he was not deceived. He had once nearly 

 lost his life by this means, and Old White Wing 

 never needed a lesson twice. Snares, traps of all 



