Crows 259 



excited in me a greater interest than the observation 

 of their attempts to rob a hen of her chicks. The 

 crow, alighting a Httle distance from the hen, would 

 advance in an apparently careless way toward the 

 brood, when the vigilant parent would bristle up her 

 feathers and rush at the black rogue to drive him 

 oflF. After several such approaches, the hen would 

 become very angry and would chase the crow to a 

 greater distance from the brood. This is the very 

 object the robber has in view, for as long as the parent 

 keeps near her young the crow has very slight chance 

 of success ; but as soon as he can induce her to follow 

 him to a little distance from the brood, he takes ad- 

 vantage of his wings, and before she can regain her 

 place, has flown over her and seized one of her 

 chickens. When the crow tries to carry off a gosUng 

 from the mother, it requires more daring and skill, 

 and is far less frequently successful than in the former 

 instance. If the gander be in company, which he 

 almost uniformly is, the crow has his labor in vain. 

 Notwithstanding the advantage of flight and superior 

 cunning, the honest vigilance and determined bravery 

 of the former are too much for him." 



This might have happened seventy years ago, but 

 the habits of crows have changed, although they have 

 not lost their cunning. There is scarcely a more 



