g§ THE AMERICAN CROW. 



grain along the fields to tempt these poor birds? Yes, I will tell you of all 

 this too. The natural feelings of every one who admires the bounty of 

 Nature in providing abundantly for the subsistence of all her creatures, 

 prompt me to do so. Like yourself, I admire all her wonderful works, and 

 respect her wise intentions, even when her laws are far beyond our limited 

 comprehension. 



The Crow devours myriads of grubs every day of the year, that might lay 

 waste the farmer's fields; it destroys quadrupeds innumerable, every one of 

 which is an enemy to his poultry and his flocks. Why then should the 

 farmer be so ungrateful, when he sees such services rendered to him by a 

 providential friend, as to persecute that friend even to the death? Unless he 

 plead ignorance, surely he ought to be found guilty at the bar of common 

 sense. Were the soil of the United States, like that of some other countries, 

 nearly exhausted by long continued cultivation, human selfishness in such a 

 matter might be excused, and our people might look on our Crows, as other 

 people look on theirs; but every individual in the land is aware of the super- 

 abundance of food that exists among us, and of which a portion may well be 

 spared for the feathered beings, that tend to enhance our pleasures by the 

 sweetness of their song, the innocence of their lives, or their curious habits. 

 Did not every American open his door and his heart to the wearied traveller, 

 and afford him food, comfort and rest, I would at once give up the argument; 

 but when I know by experience the generosity of the people, I cannot but 

 wish that they would reflect a little, and become more indulgent toward our 

 poor, humble, harmless, and even most serviceable bird, the Crow. 



The American Crow is common in all parts of the United States. It 

 becomes gregarious immediately after the breeding season, when it forms 

 flocks sometimes containing hundreds, or even thousands. Towards autumn, 

 the individuals bred in the Eastern Districts almost all remove to the 

 Southern States, where they spend the winter in vast numbers. 



The voice of our Crow is very different from that of the European species 

 which comes nearest to it in appearance, so much so indeed, that this cir- 

 cumstance, together with others relating to its organization, has induced me 

 to distinguish it, as you see, by a peculiar name, that of Corvus Americanus. 

 I hope you will think me excusable in this, should my ideas prove to be 

 erroneous, when I tell you that the Magpie of Europe is assuredly the very 

 same bird as that met with in the western wilds of the United States, 

 although some ornithologists have maintained the contrary, and that I am 

 not disposed to make differences in name where none exist in nature. I 

 consider our Crow as rather less than the European one, and the form of its 

 tongue does not resemble that of the latter bird; besides the Carrion Crow 

 of that country seldom associates in numbers, but remains in pairs, excepting 



