WINTER ROOSTING COLONIES OF CROWS. 335 



have been cut into jagged, fantastic forms in the several centuries 

 of digging by the inhabitants for the rather poor iron ore of the 

 region. The dumping of the refuse from these excavations in 

 the hollow or valley has caused huge mounds here and there, and 

 these, together with the well-eroded slopes of the small hills, give 

 a decidedly picturesque outlook to the arid land. 



The country being of poor soil is sparsely settled, and a glance 

 at a map on which all the houses are indicated shows in a striking 

 manner that this roost is in a region where are fewer houses than 

 for miles around it. So these persecuted birds, over whose heads 

 the Maryland statutes of outlawry have been hanging for almost 

 two hundred years, would be stupid indeed if they had not learned 

 to avoid man and his gun on every possible occasion, and to seek 

 the most secluded spot available for a roosting-place. 



The neighbouring farmers, with unusual good sense, seem to 

 appreciate the value of the Crows, rarely disturbing them, and 

 how far the colon}' understands this I will of course not attempt 

 to say. 



On a bright sunshiny day, up to within about two and one-half 

 or three hours of sundown, the only Crows discoverable are the 

 few which remain to feed in this territory, as their allotted ground, 

 when the colony at dawn breaks up for the day. Perhaps, in 

 addition, some that are blind or sick, too weak to fly far away, 

 have remained at the roost. On a foggy or snowy day, however, 

 more linger about all day, the main body is considerably delayed 

 in dispersion, and the Crows come in earlier in the evening. 

 Now, by about three hours before sunset on a clear day, evidently 

 having secured their daily rations, these few fly to above one of 

 the several gathering-grounds of the large flocks or detachments 

 of the main body of Crows which are to come later. In the course 

 of an hour the few already in are joined by one now and then 

 until quite a number have come together, screaming out their 

 "caws" vociferously and discordantly. This small flock may 

 perchance fly over into the woods a mile to the westward, and by 

 the time it returns in the course of fifteen or twenty minutes will 

 have grown to a very large flock. As it settles down on a near 

 corn-field with much fluttering of wings and very successful 

 attempts at making a great noise, its individuals nervously 

 hopping or Hying from one spot to another, one is reminded of a 

 flock of overgrown Blackbirds at the migrating season foraging 



