THE CROW is best known by the unfavorable 

 reputation it has acquired in the cornfield. No- 

 torious also are its raids on the poultry yard, its 

 depredations on wild birds, and its attacks on crops 

 other than corn. 



Less heralded, however, but no less important to 

 the farmer, is the crow's warfare on insect pests. 

 Insects supply about one-fifth of its food, and those 

 preyed upon include some of the worst pests with 

 which the farmer has to contend — grasshoppers, 

 caterpillars, and white grubs and their parents. May 

 beetles. 



From the evidence at hand the crow's merits and 

 shortcomings appear about equally divided. While 

 it would be unwise to give it absolute protection, and 

 thus afford the farmer no recourse when the bird is 

 doing damage, it would be equally unwise to adopt 

 the policy of killing every crow that comes within 

 gunshot. 



Much of the good the crow does can ill be spared, 

 and the damage it inflicts may be materially lessened 

 by proper measures against such birds as prove to 

 be a nuisance. 



Washington, D. C. Issued August, 1920 



eRG 



