found on the trees in winter, or pumpkins, turnips, and potatoes which have been 

 overlooked or neglected ; even mushrooms are sometimes taken, probably in de- 

 fault of something better. 



'*In estimating the economic status of the Crow, it must be acknowledged 

 that he does some damage, but, on the other hand, he should receive much credit 

 for the insects which he destroys. In the more thickly settled parts of the 

 country the Crow probably does more good than harm, at least when ordinary 

 precautions are taken to protect young poultr}^ and newly planted corn against 

 his depredations. If, however, corn is planted with no provision against possible 

 marauders, if hens and turkeys are allowed to nest and to roam with their broods 

 at a distance from farm buildings, losses must be expected." 



While, from the nature of the case, birds' eggs and young birds can form but 

 a small portion of the annual food-supply of the Crow, I believe it to be indis- 

 putable that during the nesting season they constitute a large percentage of the 

 Crow's food. Nest-robbing is not occasional but is the characteristic habit of the 

 Crow. Not only do they eat eggs and young birds, but they feed their offspring 

 on them. Doubtless few Crows live through May and June without preying 

 on smaller birds and the possibilities are that almost any one of the birds de- 

 stroyed (either in the egg or out of it) is of greater economic value than the 

 Crow. The Crow, therefore, in addition to the direct damage it may do our 

 crops, robs us of the services of birds far more desirable than itself. Even if 

 the Crow, aside from its cannibal-like propensities, was wholly beneficial, it 

 would not, it seems to me, render us as great a service as would have been per- 

 formed by the birds it destroys. In short, in my opinion, the Crow is one of the 

 worst enemies of our small insectivorous and seed-eating birds, and as such it 

 is undeserving of protection. 



Blue Jay (Cyanositta cristata). — "The Blue Jay is a common bird of the 

 United States east of the Great Plains, and remains throughout the year in 

 most of its range, although its numbers are somewhat reduced in winter in the 

 Northern States. During spring and summer the Jay is forced to become an in- 

 dustrious hunter for insects, and is not so conspicuous a feature of the landscape 

 as when it roams the country at will after the cares of the nesting season are 

 over. 



"Ornithologists and field observers in general declare that a considerable 

 portion of its food in spring and early summer consists of the eggs and young 

 of small birds, and some farmers accuse it of stealing corn to an injurious ex- 

 tent in the fall. While there may be some truth in these accusations, they have 

 almost certainly been exaggerated. No doubt many Jays have been observed 

 robbing nests of other birds, but thousands have been seen that were not so en- 

 gaged. 



'Tn an investigation of the food of the Blue Jay 292 stomachs were ex- 

 amined which showed that animal matter comprised 24 per cent and vegetable mat- 

 ter 76 per cent of the bird's diet. So much has been said about the nest-robbing 



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