130 Handbook of Nature-Study 



old crows that have developed the nest-hunting habit. On the other 

 hand, I became a sincere admirer of a crow flock which worked in a field 

 close to my country home, and I have been the chosen friend of several 

 tame crows who were even more interesting than they were mischievous. 



The crow is larger than any other of our common blackbirds; the 

 northern raven is still larger, but is very rarely seen. Although the 

 crow's feathers are black, yet in the sunlight a beautiful purple iridescence 

 plays over the plumage, especially about the neck and back; it has a 

 compact but not ungraceful body, and long, powerful wings; its tail is 

 medium sized and is not notched at the end; its feet are long and strong; 

 the track shows three toes directed forward and one long one directed 

 backward. The crow does not sail through the air as does the hawk, but 

 progresses with an almost constant flapping of the wings. Its beak is 

 very strong and is used for tearing the flesh of its prey and for defense, 

 and in fact, for almost anything that a beak could be used for; its eye is 

 all black and is very keen and intelligent. When hunting for food in the 

 field, it usually walks, but sometimes hops. The raven and the fish crows 

 are the nearest relatives of the American crow, and next to them the 

 jays. We should hardly think that the bluejay and the crow were 

 related to look at them, but when we come to study their habits, much is 

 to be found in common. 



The crow's nest is usually very large; it is made of sticks, of grape 

 vines and bark, sod, horse-hair, moss and grasses. It is placed in trees or 

 in tall bushes rarely less than twenty feet from the ground. The eggs are 

 pale bluish green or nearly white with brownish markings. The young 

 crows hatch in April or May. Both parents are devoted to the care of the 

 young, and remain with them during most of the summer. I have often 

 seen a mother crow feeding her young ones which were following her with 

 obstreperous caws, although they were as large as she. 



While the note of the crow is harsh when close at hand, it has'a musical 

 quality in the distance. Mr. Mathews says: "The crow when he sings 

 is nothing short of a clown; he ruffles his feathers, stretches his neck, like 

 a cat with a fish bone in her throat, and with a most tremendous effort 

 delivers a series of hen-like squawks." But aside from his caw, the crow 

 has some very seductive soft notes. I have held long conversations with 

 two pet crows, talking with them in a high, soft tone and finding that they 

 answered readily in a like tone in a most responsive way. I have also 

 heard these same tones among the wild crows when they were talking 

 together; one note is a gutteral tremolo, most grotesque. 



Crows gather in flocks for the winter; these flocks number from fifty to 

 several hundred individuals, all having a common roosting place, usually 

 in pine or hemlock forests or among other evergreens. They go out from 

 these roosts during the day to get food, often making a journey of many 

 miles. During the nesting season they scatter in pairs and do not gather 

 again in flocks until the young are fully grown. 



When crows are feeding in the fields there is usually, if not always, a 

 sentinel posted on some high point so that he can give warning of danger. 

 This sentinel is always an experienced bird and is keen to detect a 

 dangerous from a harmless intruder. I once made many experiments 

 with these sentinels ; I finally became known to those of a particular flock 

 and I was allowed to approach within a few yards of where the birds were 

 feeding, a privilege not accorded to any other person in the neighborhood. 



