EVIDENCE FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 39 



More than 200 correspondents state that they have either seen or 

 heard of damage to poultry and eggs by Crows, and about one-sixth of 

 this number are positive that such damage is frequent and serious. 

 On the other hand, more than 150 observers state that they have no 

 personal knowledge of any such damage. Under such circumstances, 

 especially if the reports are from localities where Crows are known to 

 breed abundantly, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that Crows 

 rarely carry off young poultry ; but in other localities it is equally 

 certain that the habit is common. 



The following statements from observers have been selected from 

 more than 100 similar notes : 



From John A. Weems, Flora, Bullock County, Ala.: The Common Crow is the 

 worst egg thief I ever had to contend with. I never knew it to catch young chick- 

 ens, but it destroyed at least 100 turkey eggs for me during last spring and early 

 summer. 1886. 



From C. L. Rawson, Norwich, Conn. : The Crow is a common enemy to the domes- 

 tic turkey when breeding, frequently eating eggs and sometimes young. It ate 14 

 turkey eggs for a Preston farmer on June 1. I once saw a Crow flying with a duck 

 egg in its bill, or rather with its bill thrust into the egg. 1886. 



From Frank B. Hancock, Casky, Christian County, Ky. : Crows undoubtedly catch 

 young chickens and steal eggs, and they have caused me more trouble in that respect 

 than hawks. My home is situated on the south side of a woodland in which a col- 

 ony of Crows located in 1870. This spring (1885) I have watched them carefully, and 

 have seen them steal chickens before they were past the downy stage, and carry 

 them away to their young. I have one Crow family charged with $25 worth of chicks 

 stolen in April and May last. 



From Dr. D. W. Prentiss, Washington, D. C. : Crows were observed to destroy 

 young chickens frequently on farms at Moreland, near Adamstown, Md. This was 

 well known to the farmers, and means were taken to protect the chicks. 1886. 



From Prof. F. E. L. Beal, Lunenburg, Mass. : I have seen it catch at least one young 

 chicken, and in several cases have had no doubt of its guilt. 1886. 



From H. Nehrling, Freistatt, Lawrence County, Mo. : I have frequently observed- 

 them stealing the eggs from my poultry yard. They do this very slyly and quietly. 

 As soon as the eggs are hatched they carry off the young chickens whenever they 

 can get them. With the exception of Cooper's hawk, I do not know such a bold 

 robber as the Crow. One day in April one of these birds perched on the fence, only 

 a few steps from my house. An old hen with about a dozen chickens which were 

 only a few days old was in my barnyard. Suddenly the Crow swooped down, caught 

 a chicken with its bill, and went off, flying away near the ground. In a few weeks 

 the Crows carried off about 20 chickens which varied in age from one day to four 

 weeks. 1885. 



From Dr. A. K. Fisher, Sing Sing, Westchester County, N. Y. : I have known 

 Crows to carry off as many as 20 chickens from a single farm during a season. I 

 have repeatedly observed them fly silently and perch on a tree near where the 

 chickens lived, but in every case they were either killed or frightened away before 

 any of the chickens were molested. 1885. 



From F. L. Burns, Berwyn, Pa. : I have seen the Common Crow catch young 

 chickens early in the spring when other food was scarce. It also steals chicken 

 and turkey eggs, particularly when they have nests in a field near the woods. 1886. 



From T. Scott Fisher, East Brook, Lawrence County, Pa. : If other food is scarce, 

 the Crow will catch and eat young chickens until they are the size of a quail; it 

 also eats eggs. I have seen it do both at least six different times. 1887. 



