﻿306 Canadian Record of Science. 



harmful or neutral in their economic relations. Of the 

 insect diet Mr. E. A. Schwarz says : " The facts, on 

 the whole, speak overwhelmingly in favor of the crow." 



Probably the most important item in the vegetable 

 food is corn, and by pulling up the newly sprouted seeds 

 the bird renders himself extremely obnoxious. Obser- 

 vation and experiments with tame crows show that hard, 

 dry corn is never eaten if anything else is to be had, and 

 if fed to nestlings it is soon disgorged. The reason crows 

 resort to newly planted fields is that the kernels of corn 

 are softened by the moisture of the earth, and probably 

 become more palatable in the process of germination, 

 which changes the starch of the grain to sugar. The fact, 

 however, remains that crows eat corn extensively only 

 when it has been softened by germination or partial 

 decay, or before it is ripe and still *'in the milk." 

 Experience has shown that they may be prevented from 

 pulling up young corn by tarring the seed, which not only 

 saves the corn but forces them to turn their attention 

 to insects. If they persist in eating green corn it is not 

 so easy to prevent the damage ; but no details of extensive 

 injury in this way have yet been presented, and it is 

 probable that no great harm has been done. 



Crows eat fruit to some extent, but confine themselves 

 for the most part to wild species, such as dogwood, sour 

 gum, and seeds of the different kinds of sumac. They 

 have also a habit of sampling almost everything which 

 appears eatable, especially when food is scarce. For 

 example, they eat frozen apples found on the trees in 

 winter, or pumpkins, turnips, and potatoes which have 

 been overlooked or neglected ; even mushrooms are some- 

 times taken, probably in default of something better. 



In estimating the economic status of the crow, it must 

 be acknowledged that lie does some damage, but, on the 

 other hand, he should receive much credit for the insects 

 which he destroys. In the more thickly settled parts of 



