322 CROW. 
The strong attachment of the Crows to this syot mu’ be illustrated 
by the following circumstance: Some years ago, a sudden and violent 
north-east storm came on during the night, and the tide, rising to an 
uncommon height, inundated the whole island. The darkness of the 
night, the suddenness and violence of the storm, and the incessant 
torrents of rain that fell, it is supposed, so intimidated the Crows, that 
they did not attempt to escape, and almost all perished. Thousands 
of them were next day seen floating in the river; and the wind, shift- 
ing to the northwest, drove their dead bodies to the Jersey side, where 
for miles they blackened the whole shore. 
This disaster, however, seems long ago to have been repaired ; for 
they now congregate on the Pea Patch in as immense multitudes 
as ever.* 
So universal is the hatred to Crows, that few states, either here or 
in Europe, have neglected to offer rewards for their destruction. In 
the United States, they have been repeatedly ranked in our laws with 
the wolves, the panthers, foxes, and squirrels, and a proportionable 
premium offered for their heads, to be paid by any justice of the peace 
to whom they are delivered. On all these accounts, various modes 
have been invented for capturing them. They have been taken in 
clap nets, commonly used for taking pigeons ; two or three live Crows 
being previously procured as decoys, or, as they are called, Stool- 
Crows. Corn has been steeped in a strong decoction of hellebore, 
which, when eaten by them, produces giddiness, and finally, it is said, 
death. Pieces of paper formed into the shape of a hollow cone, 
besmeared within with birdlime, and a grain or two of corn dropped on 
the bottom, have also been adopted. [Numbers of these being placed 
on the ground, where corn has been planted, the Crows attempting to 
reach the grains, are instantly hoodwinked, fly directly upwards to a 
great height; but generally descend near the spot whence they 
rose, and are easily taken. The reeds of their roosting places are 
sometimes set on fire during a dark night, and the gunners having 
previously posted themselves around, the Crows rise in great uproar, 
and, amidst the general consternation, by the light of the burnings, 
hundreds of them are shot down. 
Crows have been employed to catch Crows, by the following strata- 
gem: A live Crow is pinned by the wings down to the ground on his 
back, by means of two sharp, forked sticks. Thus situated, his cries 
are loud and incessant, particularly if any other Crows are within 
view. These, sweeping down about him, are instantly grappled by the 
* The following is extracted from a late number of a newspaper printed in tha! 
neighborhood : — 
“The farmers of Red Lion Hundred held a meeting at the Village of St. 
George’s, in the state of Delaware, on Monday, the 6th inst., to receive propo- 
sals of John Deputy, on a plan for banishing or destroying the Crows. Mr. 
Deputy’s plan being heard and considered, was approved, and a committee ap- 
pointed to contract with him, and to procure the necessary funds to carry the 
same into effect. Mr. Depuy proposes, that for five hundred dollars he will 
engage to kill or banish the Crows from their roost on the Pea Patch, and give 
security to return the money on failure. , 
“The sum of five hundred dollars being thus required, the committee beg 
leave to address the farmers and others of Newcastle county and elsewhere on 
the subject.” 
