ATTACKS ON HEKON's NESTS. 45 



time, finding them again without eggs, while fresh shells were strewn 

 on the ground. 



6c The herons were now shy and restless, whereas the Crows, for whom 

 I entertained a strong aversion, were more audacious and clamorous 

 than ever. A subsequent and final visit revealed conditions unchanged, 

 the Crows as officious as ever, so that it being very late in the season, 

 I was satisfied that no young birds were reared last year." 



Accounts of similar depredations on heronries are by no means rare, 

 but although the eggs and young herons doubtless constitute the pri- 

 mary attraction at such breeding places, it is probable that the Crows 

 get the fish and other food accidentally dropped by the herons while 

 feeding their young, as herons are notoriously careless in this respect. 

 The following account l by Mr. J. Foster, of the plundering of Florida 

 rookeries by Crows illustrates forcibly the intelligence of these dusky 

 thieves, and their readiness to take advantage of circumstances: 



"In the years of 1874 and 1875 a party of us made two round trips to 

 Lake Okeechobee, Florida, by way of the Kissimmee River. We also 

 took a third hunt as far as Fort Kissimmee. In these voyages it was 

 very interesting to observe the habits of the Crow. All the herons 

 and water turkeys (darters or snakebirds) had built in the hummock 

 adjoining the water. Whenever our boat, the Forest and Stream, sud- 

 denly rounded a point there was a great stir in the rookeries and a 

 lively time for the Crows. The latter birds seemed to know our move- 

 ments, for they were ever on the alert at every disturbance, and began 

 actively to plunder the nests, robbing them of both eggs and young 

 birds. When we came to a rookery of plume birds our guns created 

 great confusion among the herons; but the Crows seemed to take in 

 the situation, and apparently understood our intention, for they paid 

 no attention to the noise of our guns, but plied their work of destruc- 

 tion upon the eggs and young as mercilessly as did we upon the old 

 birds. As long as we continued shooting they made havoc among the 

 nests." 



Herons, ducks, and most othei; waterfowl are not quick enough on 

 the wing to drive the Crows away and thus secure safety for their 

 nests. Sometimes, however, Crows attempt to impose upon species 

 which are able to defend themselves. 



Mr. JB. H. Dutcher gives the following account 2 of the persecution of 

 four Crows by terns on a small island at the eastern end of Long Island 

 Sound in August, 1888: " Four unlucky Crows sometime in the spring, 

 before the terns arrived, decided to take up their residence on Great 

 Gull Island. * * # It might have been that they came in search of 

 food, for the island was well stocked with the eggs and young of the 

 terns. If so, they were sadly disappointed, for no sooner had the terns 



1 Forest and Stream, VII, 1876, p. 84. 



2 The Auk, VI, 1889, pp. 129-130. 



