20 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis 



dainty in the shape of a rosy lung or similar succulency. 

 When such an article has been found, it is accompanied 

 for many miles by troops of hungry Crows, and the 

 crowning event takes place when the Bald Eagle joins 

 the revelers and gets the lion's share. 



In former years, Herring Gulls were not uncommon, 

 at such feasts, but of late they seem to be quite scarce 

 around here. 



In very hard winters, when the river remains solidly 

 frozen for some time, the Crows are very much less 

 numerous, but as soon as the snow begins to go they 

 return, and when the ice breaks up they are back in 

 full force. 



From the middle of September, when they first appear 

 at the roost, until the middle of October, the increase is 

 slow. The last decade of October and the first of 

 November is the time when the bulk of Crows arrive 

 at the roost. 



Cool, still days, with gloomy skies and misty air, bring 

 them from the North in loose, straggling flights, from 

 different directions, but falling into line north of the 

 icity, they pass around its western bounds near Shaw's 

 Garden, and thence in a straight line towards the foot 

 of the Island, where they arrive in a regular stream 

 which pours in some days from 1 or 2 p. m. until dark. 



On arriving above the river the Crow ceases beating 

 the air and, instead of flapping heavily along as usual, 

 it spreads its wings and floats down majestically towards 

 the island, where it first goes for water and then for 

 a perch in the trees. This perch is often changed before 

 the final selection is made. Cottonwoods and willows. 

 twenty to thirty feet high are chosen, and a dozen or 

 more find a place in a single tree. 



When the November sun has set, the trees on the 

 lower part of the Island are black with Crows, and the 

 noise they make and which they keep up until quite 



