80 



CROW. 



served in that country. In travelling from Nashville to Natchez, 

 a distance of four hundred and seventy miles, I saw few or no 

 Crows, but Ravens frequently, and Vultures in great numbers. 



The usual breeding time of the Crow, in Pennsylvania, is in 

 March, April and May, during which season they are dispersed 

 over the woods in pairs, and roost in the neighbourhood of the tree 

 they have selected for their nest. About the middle of March they 

 begin to build, generally choosing a high tree; tho I have also 

 known them prefer a middle sized cedar. One of their nests, now 

 before me, is formed externally of sticks, wet moss, thin bark mix- 

 ed with mossy earth, and lined with large quantities of horse hair, 

 to the amount of more than half a pound, some cow hair, and some 

 wool, forming a very soft and elastic bed. The eggs are four, of 

 a pale green color, marked with numerous specks and blotches of 

 olive. 



During this interesting season the male is extremely watch- 

 ful, making frequent excursions of half a mile or so in circuit, to re- 

 connoitre; and the instant he observes a person approaching, he 

 gives the alarm, when both male and female retire to a distance 

 till the intruder has gone past. He also regularly carries food to 

 his mate while she is sitting; occasionally relieves her; and when 

 she returns, again resigns up his post. At this time also, as well 

 as until the young are able to fly, they preserve uncommon silence, 

 that their retreat may not be suspected. 



It is in the month of May, and until the middle of June, that 

 the Crow is most destructive to the corn-fields, digging up the newly 

 planted grains of maize, pulling up by the roots those that have be- 

 gun to vegetate, and thus frequently obliging the farmer to replant, 

 or lose the benefit of the soil ; and this sometimes twice, and even 

 three times, occasioning a considerable additional expense and ine- 

 quality of harvest. No mercy is now shewn him. The myriads of 

 worms, moles, mice, caterpillars, grubs and beetles which he has 

 destroyed, are altogether overlooked on these occasions. Detected 



