JIM CROW 135 



idly. It was not long until they were able to sit on 

 the edge of the nest and then to walk out on the 

 limbs of the big tree; then they began to find their 

 voice, as they kept informing their parents of the 

 necessity of more food. 



However, in another week Jim decided that it was 

 time to teach the youngsters the art of flying, so 

 he urged them to fly from one limb to another until 

 they were lower down on the tree and nearer the 

 ground. Then he would crowd them off the last 

 limb, while they would make a frantic effort to fly, 

 which only served to break the force of their fall to 

 the ground. After many attempts during the next 

 few days they were able to make good progress, and 

 then they soon began to find their own food. 



One day one of the youngsters was sitting on a 

 wire fence near his mother, when a field mouse ran 

 out of the grass into the cultivated field, to dig up 

 another kernel of corn which had recently been 

 planted there. The mother made a sudden rush for 

 him; with her huge claws she pinned him to the 

 ground and with one swift stroke of her sharp bill 

 ended his life. Then the youngster was invited down 

 to partake of the delicacy. He enjoyed it very much, 

 and decided that he would try his luck at this kind 

 of a game, so shortly after he noticed a movement 



