H 



began his racket they would collect on a 

 distant pine tree and haw-haw in doubtful 

 answer. But curiosity always got the better Crouf-iOays 

 of them, and they generally compromised by 

 sending over some swift, long-winged old 

 flier, only to see him go tumbling down at 

 the report of a gun ; and away they would go, 

 screaming at the top of their voices, and never 

 stopping till they were miles away. Next 

 week they would do exactly the same thing. 

 Crows, more than any other birds, are fond 

 of excitement and great crowds ; the slightest 

 unusual object furnishes an occasion for an 

 assembly. A wounded bird will create as 

 much stir in a flock of crows as a railroad 

 accident does in a village. But when some 

 prowling old crow discovers an owl sleeping 

 away the sunlight in the top of a great hem- 

 lock, his delight and excitement know no 

 bounds. There is a suppressed frenzy in his 

 very call that every crow in the neighbor- 

 hood understands. Come ! come ! everybody 

 come! he seems to be screaming as he 

 circles over the tree-top ; and within two 

 minutes there are more crows gathered 



