CROWS. 275 



height, and very rarely near the ground, they are frequently 

 obliged to fight against the winds, and even to " tack," that 

 they may reach their destination. 



The natural characteristics of the Crows are sagacity, cun- 

 ning, and a tendency to thievishness. The difficulty of ap- 

 proaching these birds with a gun is proverbial. They are 

 brave in defending their nests from the approach of other 

 birds ; but, in turn, are very commonly pursued and annoyed 

 by the pugnacious King-bird. They frequently follow Hawks, 

 who easily avoid, and seemingly disregard them ; and they 

 take great pleasure in mobbing Owls, whom they surround 

 with noisy greetings, whenever discovered in the day-time. 

 Wilson, however, quotes an anecdote of one being killed by 

 a large Owl at evening. 



d. The notes of the Crow, which are highly unmusical, 

 are ordinarily a slightly prolonged caw, or a shorter och fre- 

 quently repeated. There is another distinct cry, more gut- 

 tural, which suggests the rattling of a rope through a pulley. 

 This I at first attributed to individuals with " broken " voices, 

 but I am now inclined to believe that it is merely peculiar to 

 the season of spring. It is perhaps also used as a note to 

 their young, whose voice is feebler and distinct from that 

 of their parents. The Crows, in producing their notes, are 

 obliged to gesticulate, when perched, and occasionally (in in- 

 dividuals) to suspend the motion of their wings, when flying. 



Of all our birds, the Crows and Jays are doubtless most 

 worthy of being destroyed. The former have not, however, I 

 think, diminished in numbers, as Mr. AUen believed to be the 

 case when he wrote his catalogue ; but, on the contrary, have 

 steadily increased. They are in summer abundant throughout 

 a larger part of New England. 



II. CYANOCITTA. 



A. CRiSTATA. Blue, Jay. A common resident through- 

 out Massachusetts.* 



* A common resident of the whole migrations (especially in autnmn) than 

 of New England, but apparently much at other seasons. — W. B. 

 more nnmerous everywhere during the 



