u. 



VII. CROW-WAYS. 



HE crow is very much of a rascal — 

 that is, if any creature can be called a 

 rascal for following out natural and ras- 

 cally inclinations. I first came to this 

 conclusion one early morning, se\'eral 

 years ago, as I watched an old crow diligently explor- 

 ing a frino'e of bushes that ei'ew alone the wall of a 

 deserted pasture. He had eaten a clutch of thrush's 

 eggs, and carried off three young sparrows to feed his 

 own young, before I found out what he was about. 

 Since then I have surprised him often at the same 

 depredations. 



An old farmer has assured me that he has also 

 caught him tormenting his sheep, lighting on their 

 backs and pulling the wool out by the roots to get 

 fleece for lining his nest. This is a much more seri- 

 ous charge than that of pulling up corn, though the 

 latter makes almost every farmer his enemy. 



Yet with all his rascality he has many curious and 

 interesting ways. In fact, I hardly know another bird 

 that so well repays a season's study ; only one must 



