82 



CROW 



Towards the close of summer the parent Crows with their new 

 families, forsaking their solitary lodgings, collect together, as if by 

 previous agreement, when evening approaches. About an hour 

 before sunset they are first observed, flying somewhat in Indian 

 file, in one direction, at a short height above the tops of the trees, 

 silent and steady, keeping the general curvature of the ground, con- 

 tinuing to pass sometimes till after sunset, so that the whole line 

 of march would extend for many miles. This circumstance, so fa- 

 miliar and picturesque, has not been overlooked by the poets in 

 their descriptions of a rural evening. Burns, in a single line has 

 finely sketched it 



" The blackening train of Craws to their repose.'' 



The most noted Crow roost with which I am acquainted is near 

 Newcastle, on an island in the Delaware. It is there known by 

 the name of the Pea Patch, and is a low flat alluvial spot of a few 



ing deprived him of his expected regale. I confess that the scene before me was altogether 

 novel and surprising. I am but little conversant with natural history ; but I had always un- 

 derstood, that the depredations of the Owl were confined to the smaller birds and animals of 

 the lesser kind, such as mice, young rabbits, Sec. and that he obtained his prey rather by 

 fraud and stratagem, than by open rapacity and violence. I was the more confirmed in this 

 belief, from the recollection of a passage in Macbeth, which now forcibly recurred to my me» 

 mory. — The courtiers of King Duncan are recounting to each other the various prodigies that 

 preceded his death, and one of them relates to his wondering auditors, that 



' An Eagle, tow'ring in his pride of place, 



* Was by a jnousing Owl, hawk'd at and kill'd.' 



But to resume my relation — That the Owl was the murderer of the unfortunate Crow, there 

 could be no doubt. No other bird of prey was in sight; I had not fired my gun since I en- 

 tered the wood ; nor heard any one else shoot : besides, the unequivocal situation in which I 

 found the parties, would have been sufficient before any ' twelve good men and true,' or a jury 

 of Crows, to have convicted him of his guilt. It is proper to add, that I avenged the death of 

 the hapless Crow, by a well aimed shot at the felonious robber, that extended him breathless 

 on the ground.'' 



