THE HOODED-CROW 61 



the moment arrives when it can pounce on the promising 

 morsels, which it carries away; thus removing what 

 would otherwise soon have become putrid. In winter 

 when pigs are killed, the Crows wait, among the neigh- 

 bouring trees, for their share. 



The only remaining question, then, is, in which part 

 of the year this bird is harmful, and in which service- 

 able, an'd how long does each of these periods last. The 

 destructive period is really of short duration, for the 

 chickens soon grow into hens, the leverets become hares, 

 the young birds leave the nests, the maize hardens, and 

 ripe fruit lasts but a little while. That is to say, the 

 destructive period lasts but a few weeks. And what 

 does the Hooded Crow do for the rest of the year ? It 

 destroys insect pests, cleanses and purifies, and by its 

 continuous activity, does a service to man, which no 

 other creature could do. 



Wherever and whenever this bird does harm it must 

 be driven off, but not destroyed. The hens must be 

 kept from roving, and the orchard must be -watched. 

 If it will not be scared away then it must be shot. But 

 when busy in the furrow, the field, or the dunghill, let 

 it be left in peace, for it is doing a beneficent work. 

 Neither nature nor man can do without the Hooded Crow, 

 and for this reason it must be treated indulgently. 



The head, wings, tail, feet and throat of this bird 

 are black, but not glossy ; the lower breast, under-parts, 

 and back ashen grey ; the grey colour of the back forms 

 a kind of mantle, hence the name Mantle or Hooded 

 Crow. The strong curved beak is black, the nostrils 

 covered by bristly feathers ; the eyes dark brown ; the 

 feet strong and armed with thick scales, the soles rough. 



