The Western Crow 



ter when the bird-man, for sport, was mystifying the local bird population 



by reproducing the notes of the Screech Owl, a company of Crows settled 



in the tops of neigh- 



boring trees, and 



earnestly discussed 



the probable nature 



of the object half 



concealed under a 



camera cloth. 



Finally, they gave 



it up and withdrew 



— as I supposed. 



Taken in Oregon Photo by Bohlman and Finley 



WESTERN CROW AT NEST 



It seems that one old fellow was not satisfied, for as I ventured to shift 

 ever so little from my strained position, he set up a derisive Ca-a-a-aw 

 from a branch over my head, as who should say, "Aw, ye can't fool me. 

 Y're just a m-a-an," and flapped away in disgust. 



Space fails in which to describe the elaborate structure of Crow 

 society; to tell of the military and pedagogical systems which they en- 

 force; of the courts of justice and penal institutions which they maintain; 

 of the vigilantes who visit vengeance upon evil-minded owls and other 

 offenders; or even of the games which they play, — tag, hide-and-seek, 

 blind-man's-buff and pull-away. These things are sufficiently attested 

 by competent observers; we may only spare a word for that most serious 

 business of life, nesting. 



19 



