THE CROW AND ITS RELATION TO MAN. 55 



intentionally. Poke weed {Phytolacca decandra) was present in only 

 8 stomachs, but from the debris found at roosts in the vicinity of 

 Washington, D. C, it is apparent that the seeds of this plant form 

 an important part of the winter food of the crows of that region. 

 Such noxious plants as poison ivy and poison oak are discussed 

 under the heading " Wild Fruits," on page 53. 



FOOD OF NESTLING CROWS. 



For several reasons a correct understanding of the food habits of 

 nestling crows is essential to a complete consideration of the economic 

 status of the species. These young birds, which average approximately 

 four to a brood, remain in the nest for about three weeks, during 

 which time they consume an immense quantity of food. According 

 to Forbush, 1 fully fledged young crows will eat daily a quantity equal 

 to at least half their own weight, and doubtless in the earlier days of 

 their existence this ratio is greatly exceeded. WTien a normal number 

 of young are raised they will outnumber the adults nearly 2 to 1 

 throughout most of the United States during the month of May. 

 This fact is especially important, inasmuch as the height of abundance 

 occurs at the time of appearance of some of the most destructive 

 insects, which, if unchecked, would lay heavy toll on the season's 

 crops. Then, too, the nestling life of the young crow coincides with 

 or slightly precedes that of many small insectivorous birds, upon the 

 eggs and young of which it is sometimes fed. Poultry raisers can 

 attribute mo'st of their losses in eggs and young chicks to the zeal of 

 parent crows in providing food for hungry young rather than to a 

 desire to satisfy their own appetites, since this could be done more 

 safely at a greater distance from the farmhouse. Growing crops, 

 also, especially sprouting corn, are at a critical stage of development 

 at this time, and, should these be selected as food for nestling crows, 

 the damage would be of a most serious nature. 



Fortunately an excellent series of stomachs, 778, is available for a 

 consideration of the food of nestling crows. Of these, 47 were se- 

 cured late in April, 653 in May, and 78 early in June. They were 

 collected in 14 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada, the 

 largest numbers being taken in Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, and the 

 District of Columbia. The birds ranged in age from the blind and 

 naked young of a day or two to the fully fledged bird weighing almost 

 as much as its parents and capable of consuming considerably more 

 food. 



The elements of the diet of nestlings are essentially the same as 

 those of adults, though the relative percentages differ considerably. 

 The food habits of the nestlings themselves also vary from the period 

 when, a day or two old, their tender-walled stomachs require such soft, 



1 Forbush, E. H„ Useful Birds and Their Protection, p. 47, 1907. 



