Old White Wing 279 



his mate. As my tree stood on higher ground, I 

 could see into the nest, and there I counted five eggs. 

 After an absence of about an hour and a half the 

 female returned, preened and arranged her feathers, 

 and took her place on the eggs. Many a time after- 

 ward I saw Old White Wing bring her food and in 

 a score of ways show himself to be the most thoughtful 

 of husbands. 



By and by the five eggs hatched into five baby 

 crows, and now began the serious business of the 

 elder members of the family. This was the long- 

 looked-for opportunity for the farmer, as at this time 

 the parents are less wary of danger. I trembled for 

 the fate of my crow family, lest Old White Wing, in 

 his zealous foraging to fill the five hungry mouths in 

 the tree top, might be killed, and his blood stained 

 body hung in some cornfield to frighten away other 

 crows. 



As the young crows grew larger, the task of feeding 

 them grew more and more arduous. From morn till 

 eve both parents were kept busy, and the weary wing 

 on which they returned told of the infinite labor 

 necessary to feed a brood. 



The young were soon large enough to begin their 

 early education. Noisy little creatures they were by 

 nature; so their first lesson must be instant silence 



