82 THE COMMON CROW. 



December is insignificant. In August, however, it exceeds 9 J percent 

 of the entire stomach contents; in September it amounts to almost 14 

 percent, and in October to 5 percent. Just what proportion of this 

 fruit is cultivated it is impossible to say. Wild grapes are abundant 

 in every section of country from which the stomachs came, and in many 

 cases the seeds found were positively identified as those of the frost 

 grape ( Vitis cordifolia) and fox grape ( V. labrusca), while other kinds 

 were recognized more rarely. On the other hand, several Crows were 

 shot while leaving vineyards of Concord grapes, and occasional com- 

 plaints have been received from grape growers in different sections of 

 the country. It is probable, however, that the Crow usually contents 

 himself with wild grapes and is not likely to become a serious pest in 

 vineyards. 



Cherries. — In the case of cherries there is less likelihood of confound- 

 ing wild and cultivated forms, since the seasons of ripening are usually 

 different. In most localities cultivated cherries have ripened and dis- 

 appeared before the wild species have begun to ripen. Moreover, the 

 pits or stones of cultivated species usually may be identified with 

 some degree of certainty. Nevertheless in many of the older settled 

 parts of the country several varieties of introduced cherries have 

 escaped from cultivation and now fruit abundantly in a wild state. 

 This is the case in the Lower Hudson Valley, and most of the Crow 

 stomachs collected in the vicinity of Sing Sing, N. Y., in June and July 

 contained parts of such cherries. Keference to the table shows that in 

 June and July at least 10 percent of Crow food consists of cherries, 

 the larger part undoubtedly cultivated. It should be noted that from 

 New Jersey southward, especially near the coast, the Fish Crow (C. 

 ossifragus) is more or less abundant, and there is reason to believe that 

 it is much more strongly addicted to fruit stealing than the common 

 species. It is very similar to the Common Crow in general appearance, 

 but is smaller (especially light in weight), with longer toes, and thus 

 better fitted for arboreal feeding. 



It is probable that at least half the damage attributed to Crows in 

 the coast region of the Southern States is done by the Fish Crow, and 

 as regards fruit eating, probably a much larger proportion should be 

 charged to it. 



Wild cherries, principally Prunus serotina, form an important item 

 of the Crow's diet during August and September, and some are eaten 

 during the latter part of July. The maximum, 6 J percent, is reached 

 in August, and after September only an occasional cherry stone appears 

 in the stomach contents. In addition to the species mentioned, remains 

 of the small wild red cherry (P. pennsylvanica) were found in one or 

 two stomachs, and stones of the choke cherry (P. mrginiana) were not 

 uncommon. One Crow, taken on Long Island, New York, had eaten 

 beach plums (Prunus maritima). 



Strawberries evidently are eaten freely by Crows, but owing to the 

 indefinite number and small size of the seeds it is difficult to estimate 



