84 



CROW 



This disaster, however, seems long ago to have been repair- 

 ed; for they now congregate on the Pea Patch in as immense mul- 

 titudes as ever.^ 



So universal is the hatred to Crows, that few states either here 

 or in Europe, have neglected to offer rewards for their destruction. 

 In the United States they have been repeatedly ranked in our laws 

 with the wolves, the panthers, foxes and squirrels, and a propor- 

 tionable premium offered for their heads, to be paid by any justice 

 of the peace to whom they are delivered. On all these accounts 

 various modes have been invented for capturing them. They have 

 been taken in clap-nets commonly used for taking pigeons ; two or 

 three live Crows being previously procured as decoys, or as they 

 are called Stool-crows, Corn has been steeped in a strong decoc- 

 tion of hellebore, which when eaten by them produces giddiness, 

 and finally, it is said, death. Pieces of paper formed into the shape 

 of a hollow cone, besmeared within with birdlime, and a grain or 

 two of corn dropped on the bottom, have also been adopted. Num- 

 bers of these being placed on the ground, where corn has been 

 planted, the Crows attempting to reach the grains are instantly 

 hood-winked, fly directly upwards to a great height; but generally 

 descend near the spot whence they rose, and are easily taken. The 

 reeds of their roosting places are sometimes set on fire during a 

 dark night, and the gunners having previously posted themselves 



* The following is extracted from the late number of a newspaper printed in that neigh- 

 bourhood. — 



" The farmers of Red Lion hundred held a meeting at the village of St. Georges, in the 

 state of Delaware, on Monday the 6th inst. to receive proposals of John Deputy, on a plan for 

 banishing or destroying the Crows.-^Mr. Deputy's plan being heard and considered was ap- 

 proved, and a committee appointed to contract with him, and to procure the necessary funds 

 to carry the same into effect. Mr. Deputy proposes, that for five hundred dollars he will en- 

 gage to kill or banish the Crows from their roost on the Pea patch, and give security to re- 

 turn the money on failure. 



" The sum of five hundred dollars being thus required, the committee beg leave to ad- 

 dress the farmers and others of Newcastle county and elsewhere on the subject." 



