CROW 123 



Towards the close of summer, the parent Crows, with their new 

 families, forsaking their solitary lodgings, collect together, as if hy 

 previous agreement, when evening approaches. Ahout an hour before 

 sunset, they are first observed, flying somewhat in Indian file, in one 

 direction, at a short height above the tops of the trees, silent and steady, 

 keeping the general curvature of the ground, continuing to pass some- 

 times till after sunset, so that the whole line of march would extend for 

 many miles. This circumstance, so familiar and picturesque, has not 

 been overlooked by the poets, in their descriptions of a rural evening. 

 Burns, in a single line, has finely sketched it 



" The black'ning train of Crows to their repose." 



The most noted Crow-roost with which I am acquainted is near 

 Newcastle, on an island in the- Delaware. It is there known by the 

 name of the Pea-Patch, and is a low flat alluvial spot, of a few acres, 



roost. Returning homeward one afternoon from a shooting excursion, I had occa- 

 sion to pass through this swamp. It was near sunset, and troops of Crows were 

 flying in all directions over my head. While engaged in observing their flight, and 

 endeavoring to select from among them an object to shoot at, my ears were sud- 

 denly assailed by the distressful cries of a Crow, who was evidently struggling 

 under the talons of a merciless and rapacious enemy. I hastened to the spot whence 

 the sound proceeded, and to my great surprise, found a Crow lying on the ground, 

 just expiring, and, seated upon the body of the yet warm and bleeding quarry, a 

 large brown Owl, who was beginning to make a meal of the unfortunate robber of 

 corn-fields. Perceiving my approach, he forsook his prey with evident reluctance, 

 and flew into a tree at a little distance, where he- sat watching all my movements, 

 alternately regarding, with longing eyes, the victim he had been forced to leave, 

 and darting at me no very friendly looks, that seemed to reproach me for having 

 deprived him of his expected regale. I confess that the scene before me was alto- 

 gether novel and surprising. I am but little conversant with natural history ; but 

 I had always understood, that the depredations of the Owl were confined to the 

 smaller birds, and animals of the lesser kind ; such as mice, young rabbits, &c ; 

 and that he obtained his prey rather by fraud and stratagem, than by open rapacity 

 and violence. I was the more confirmed in this belief, from the recollection of a 

 passage in Macbeth, which now forcibly recurred to my memory. The courtiers 

 of King Duncan are recounting to each other the various prodigies that preceded 

 his death, and one of them relates to his wondering auditors, that 



' An Eagle, tow'riqg in his pride of place. 

 Was, by a mousing Owl, hawked at and killed.' 



But to resume my relation. That the Owl was the murderer of the unfortunate 

 Crow, there could be no doubt. No other bird of prey was in sight ; I had not 

 fired my gun since I entered the wood ; nor heard any one else shoot : besides, the 

 unequivocal situation in which I found the parties, would have been sufficient before 

 any 'twelve good men and true,' or jury of Crows, to have convicted him of his 

 guilt. It is proper to add, that I avenged the death of the hapless Crow, by a well- 

 aimed shot at the felonious robber, that extended him breathless on the ground." 



