38 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



" In his food, however, the Crow makes amends for his sins in the rest of his 

 dietary, although even here the first item is against him. Predaceous beetles are 

 eaten in some numbers throughout the season, but the number is not great. May 

 beetles, ' dor-bug,' or June bugs, and others of the same family, constitute the prin- 

 cipal food during spring and early summer, and are fed to the young in immense 

 quantities. Other beetles, nearly all of a noxious character, are eaten to a consider- 

 able extent. Grasshoppers are first taken in May, but not in large numbers until 

 August, when, as might be expected, they form the leading article of diet, showing 

 that the Crow is no exception to the general rule that most birds subsist, to a large 

 extent, upon grasshoppers in the month of August. Many bugs, some caterpillars, 

 mostly cutworms, and some spiders, are. also eaten — all of them either harmful or 

 neutral in their economic relations. Of the insect diet Mr. E. A. Schwarz says : 

 ' The facts, on the whole, speak overwhelmingly in favor of the Crow.' 



" Probably the most important item in the vegetable food is corn, and by pulling 

 the newly sprouted seeds the bird renders himself extremely obnoxious. Observa- 

 tions and experiments with tame Crows show that hard, dry corn is never eaten if 

 anything else is to be had, and if fed to nestlings it is soon disgorged. The reason 

 Crows resort to newly planted fields is that the kernels of corn are softened by the 

 moisture of the earth, and probably become more palatable in the process of germi- 

 nation, which changes the starch of the grain to sugar. The fact, however, remains 

 that the Crows eat corn extensively only when it has been softened by germination 

 or partial decay, or before it is ripe and still ' in milk.' Experience has shown that 

 they may be prevented from pulling up young corn by tarring the seed, which not 

 only saves the corn but forces them to turn their attention to insects. If they 

 persist in eating green corn it is not easy to prevent the damage ; but no details 

 of extensive injury in this way have yet been presented, arid it is probable that no 

 great harm has been done. 



" Crows eat fruit to some extent, but confine themselves for the most part to 

 wild species, such- as dogwood, sour gum, and seeds of the different kinds of sumac. 

 They have also a habit of sampling almost everything which appears eatable, 

 especially when food is scarce. For example, they eat frozen apples found on the 

 trees in winter, or pumpkins, turnips, and potatoes which have been overlooked or 

 neglected ; even mushrooms are sometimes taken, probably in default of something 

 better. 



" In estimating the economic status of the Crow, it must be acknowledged that 

 he does some damage, but, on the other hand, he should receive much credit for the 

 insects which he destroys. In the more thickly settled parts of the country the 



