268 NOTES ON THE 
me that ‘‘the crow is a resident in the deep valley of the Root 
river even in the severest winters.” In his immediate locality 
-they are ‘‘common, feeding about the slaughter houses.” 
Mr. Washburn, who spent from July 28th to September 12th 
in the valley of the Red river in the interests of the survey 
says: ‘‘Iam rather puzzled to account for the actions of the- 
crow in this part of the country. I did not meet with them 
until I reached Ada, and then I saw but a few, flying high in 
the air. I was told at Georgetown, however, fifteen miles 
north of Moorhead, that they are common in thespring. And I 
was told too that they are seen at Ada in June when other 
birds are nesting, but my informant had never seen a nest. As 
autumn approached however, and my journey took me farther 
northward, I met them more frequently. 
“The Crow is certainly more common in the northern part of 
the valley than further south. I have learned that this bird 
breeds plentifully about the lakes of Otter Tail county, and in 
immense numbers in the country about Mille Lacs lake, where 
there is more or less pine. JI assume that they find in the pine 
sections, conditions more favorable for nesting than near the 
Red river, and that accounts for their scarcity during July and 
part of August; whereas, later in the season, when the young 
crows can fly long distances, and when a change of food is 
desirable, they flock upon the low land of the valley. In Sep-: 
tember, I observed large flocks of them near the track, north 
and south of Crookston, and in riding across the country I met 
them in large numbers on the meadow lands, catching and eat- 
ing young frogs, which are exceedingly abundant here this 
season.”’ 
The farmers are close observers of this bird, and have a prac- 
tical knowledge of some of his more interesting habits. I can’t 
say quite so much for him in his defense, but I think a charita- 
ble apology by recognizing how he was brought up, and 
acknowledging his services in the destruction of noxious 
ground larve, are due before exterminating him altogether. 
Like his regal cousin, the raven, he is a shrewd fellow, and 
appreciates a joke as well as almost any other member of his 
numerous family. A farmer in the Sacramento valley, Califor- 
nia, found that the crow could count up to three with infallible 
certainty, but four was too much for him, and he settled it in 
this wise. Immense flocks of them were interested in the 
botany of his cornfield, and did not replant his corn shoots 
after examining the fibrous roots, and he was thoroughly mad 
