﻿Common Birds in Relation to Agriculture. 305 



charges against him, it may be well to, show why he 

 should not be utterly condemned. 



The examination of a large number of stomachs, while 

 confirming all the fbregoing accusations, has thrown upon 

 the subject a light somewhat different from that derived 

 solely from field observation. It shows that the bird's- 

 nesting habit, as in the case of the jay, is not so universal 

 as has been supposed ; and that, so far from being a 

 habitual nest robber, the crow only occasionally indulges 

 in that reprehensible practice. The same is true in 

 regard to destroying chickens, for he is able to carry 

 off none but very young ones, and his opportunities for 

 capturing them are somewhat limited. ]S'either are many 

 toads and frogs eaten, and as frogs are of no great 

 practical value, their destruction is not a serious matter ; 

 but toads are very useful, and their consumption, so far as 

 it goes, must be counted against the crow. Turtles, 

 crayfishes, and snails, of which he eats quite a large 

 number, may be considered neutral, while mice may be 

 counted to his credit. 



In his insect food, however, the crow makes amends for 

 sins in the rest of his dietary, although even here the 

 first item is against him. Predaceous beetles are eaten in 

 some numbers throughout the season, but the number is 

 not great. May beetles, " dor-bugs," or June bugs, and 

 others of the same family, constitute the principal food 

 during spring and early summer, and are fed to the young 

 in immense quantities. Other beetles, nearly all of a 

 noxious character, are eaten to a considerable extent. 

 Grasshoppers are first taken in May, but not in large 

 numbers until August when, as might be expected, they 

 form the leading article of diet, showing that the crow is 

 no exception to the general rule that most birds subsist, 

 to a large extent, upon grasshoppers in the month of 

 August. Many bugs, some caterpillars, mostly cutworms, 

 and some spiders are also eaten — all of them either 



