144 NATURAL HISTORY. 



240. The birds of the Crow family are among the lar- 

 gest of the Perchers. They are bold but crafty birds, 

 showing considerable intelligence, and, when domestica- 

 ted, have powers of imitation similar to those of the Par- 

 rot. They li ve in societies. The largest of the family is 

 the Raven, well known in a great range of climate in 

 both hemispheres. It has a solemn look, and has always 

 been deemed a bird of ill omen. The Rook, so common 

 in England, is nearly like the common Crow of this coun- 

 try. Of both it may be said that the good which they 

 do in destroying grubs, which are injurious to vegetation, 

 more than compensates for the harm which they do in 

 pulling up the young corn or potato cuttings. The Jays 

 are of the Crow family. The most beautiful of these is 

 the Blue Jay of this country. This bird has a great an- 

 tipathy to Owls, and when it discovers one, it rouses, by 

 its boisterous vociferations, a noisy troop of birds of va- 

 rious kinds. The Owl receives all this with a quiet grav- 

 ity, and, watching his opportunity, at length, on noiseless 

 wing, slips away from his annoying company. 



241. The birds of the Starling family are in form and 

 habits quite like the Crow family ^ but are much smaller. 

 The Meadow Lark of this country is one of them. The 

 Baltimore Oriole, one of a numerous group in this family, 

 is a very interesting and beautiful bird. It is called by 

 various names : the Golden Oriole, Golden Robin, Fire- 

 bird, and Fire Hangbird. Of this last name the first part 

 was suggested by its bright orange color flashing in the 

 light, and the latter part comes from its hanging nest, 

 which is woven from hemp or flax. To this family be- 

 longs that singular bird of Australia, the Bower-bird, Fig. 

 119 (p. 145). This bird builds a bower of twigs, inter- 

 woven so as to meet above, forming a sort of tunnel. 

 The entrance to this is decorated with any brilliant arti- 

 cle that the bird can find, as shells and feathers. No 

 other use has been discovered for this bower but that of 

 a play-ground, the birds being seen to run through and 



