the foregoing accusations, has thrown upon the subject a light somewhat differ- 

 ent from that derived solely from field observation. It shows that the birds- 

 nesting habit, as in the case of the Jay, is not so universal as has been supposed ; 

 and that, so far from being a habitual nest robber, the Crow only occasionally 

 indulges in that reprehensible practice. The same is true in regard to destroy- 

 ing chickens, for he is able to carry off none but the very young ones, and his 

 opportunities for capturing them are somewhat limited. Neither are many 

 toads or frogs eaten, and as frogs are of no great practical value, their destruc- 

 tion is not a serious matter ; but toads are very useful, and their consumption, 

 so far as it goes, must be counted against the Crow. Turtles, crayfishes, and 

 snails, of which he eats quite a large number, may be considered neutral, while 

 mice may be counted to his credit. 



'Tn his food, however, the Crow makes amends for his sins in the rest of 

 his dietary, although even here the first item is against him. Predaceous beetles 

 are eaten in some numbers throughout the season. l)Ut the number is not great. 

 May beetles, 'dor-bug,' or June bugs, and others of the same family, constitute 

 the principal food during spring and early summer, and are fed to the young in 

 immense quantities. Other beetles, nearly all of a noxious character, are eaten 

 to a considerable extent. Grasshoppers are first taken in May, but not in large 

 numbers until August, when, as might be expected, they form the leading article 

 of diet, showing that the Crow is no exception to the general rule that most 

 birds subsist, to a large extent, upon grassho])pers in the month of August. 

 Many bugs, some caterpillars, mostly cutworms, and some spiders, are also eaten 

 — all of them either harmful or neutral in their economic relations. Of the in- 

 sect diet Mr. E. A. Schwartz says : 'The facts, on the whole, speak ox erwlielni- 

 ingly in favor of the Crow.' 



"Probably the most important item in the vegetable food is corn, and b\ 

 pulling the newly sprouted seeds the bird renders himself extremely obnoxious. 

 Observations and experiments with tame Crows show that hard, dry corn is 

 never eaten if anything else is to be had, and if fed to nestlings it is soon dis- 

 gorged. The reason Crows resort to newly planted fields is that the kernels of 

 corn are softened by the moisture of the earth, and probably become more palat- 

 able in the process of germination, which changes the starch of the grain to sugar. 

 The fact, however, remains that the Crows eat corn extensively only when it 

 lias been softened by germination or partial decay, or before it is ripe and still 

 "in milk.' Experience has shown that they may be prevented from pulling uiv 

 young corn by tarring the seed, which not only saves the corn but forces them 

 to turn their attention to insects. If they persist in eating green corn it is not 

 easy to prevent the damage; but no details of extensive injury in this way have 

 yet been presented, and it is probable that no great harm has been done. 



"Crows eat fruit to some extent, but confine themselves for the most part 

 to wild species, such as dogwood, sour gum, and seeds of the different kinds 

 of sumac. They have also a habit of sampling almost everything which appears 

 eatable, especially when food is scarce. For example, they eat frozen apples 



726 



