1877. ] Glimpses of Mind in Birds. 281 
municated to the other, and the chirps and twitters of a whole 
afternoon were their sole means of communication. Here, have 
we not, without overstraining our imagination or at all taxing 
our credulity, a veritable glimpse of mind in birds? Further, is 
it not an indication of a high order of mental power? These 
birds were not simply pursuing the ordinary routine of nest-build- 
ing, but actually carefully considered the future and its possible 
mishaps, and guarded intelligently against them. 
The senseless persecution to which our common crow has been 
subjected by short-sighted farmers —for it is in reality a most 
valuable bird to the agriculturist —has rendered it exceedingly 
shy and cunning. This is well known to every one who has ever 
seen a crow, at least in our Middle States. While timidity has 
doubtless become hereditary in all our birds, and is increased in 
every individual through imitation of the parent birds, which 
themselves act not only from hereditary impulses, but from ex- 
perience, on the other hand cunning is not necessarily an inher- 
ited trait, as it differs so greatly in individuals, but is an acquired 
one ; and can we be mistaken in considering that this same cun- 
ning on the part of some is recognized by the masses, and being 
constantly associated, they naturally learn to defer to the better 
judgment of the superior birds. On the other hand, crows, as 
men, soon learn to realize their superiority over their fellows, if 
they possess any, and quickly assume the position of leaders. In 
Some very similar way, I believe that crows have developed 
through their experience as persecuted creatures that power of 
organization — executive ability we call itin mankind — through 
which they are able to maintain their numbers and escape de- 
struction, It may be urged that superior cunning ought likewise 
to have been evolved among our game birds, inasmuch as they 
have been far more persecuted, so that they too might have suc- 
cessfully baffled their tormentors and maintained their ground. 
I can but say that to some extent it probably has, but that they 
may have less active intellects, and their being so unintermit- 
tingly pursued has had a depressing effect ; while on the part of 
‘rows, persecution has resulted in acceleration of the develop- 
ment of mental powers. Contact with man, it is easily seen, has 
Sharpened the wits of many of the lower animals, to such an ex- 
tent in some, that like the crow they can resist him ; while others» 
van the great auk, perhaps through want of energy, have per- 
Shed, 
Birds are not naturally given to excesses in eating or drink- 
