NATURE AND HER HARMONIES. 
25 
Unless lie plead ignorance, surely lie ouglit to be found 
guilty at the bar of common sense. "Were the soil of the 
United States like that of some other countries, nearly ex- 
hausted by long-continued cultivation, human selfishness 
in such a matter might be excused, and our people might 
look on our crows as other people look on theirs ; but every 
individual in the land is aware of the superabundance of 
food that exists among us, and of which a portion may well 
be spared for the feathered beings that tend to enhance our 
pleasures — ^by the sweetness of their song — the innocence of 
their lives — or their curious habits. Did not every American 
open his door and his heart to the wearied traveller, and af- 
ford him food, comfort and rest, I would at once give up the 
argument ; but when I know by experience, the generosity 
of the people, I cannot but wish that they would reflect a 
little, and become more indulgent towards our poor, humble, 
harmless, and ever most serviceable bird — ^the crow !" 
A crow-roost is one of the most singular places that ever 
mortal found himself in. Mr. Audubon speaks of their 
roosting by the " margins of ponds, lakes and rivers, upon 
the rank weeds and cat-tails," but I met them while hunt- 
ing among the hills of the Green Eiver country, Kentucky, 
roosting in a very different manner. I saw them stream- 
ing over my head, in great numbers, one evening, and hear- 
ing a most unusual noise in the direction they all seemed to 
pursue, my curiosity induced me to follow on, and see what 
it meant. As I advanced, the sound grew in volume, until 
at last, as I rounded the abrupt angle of a hill side, covered 
with a tall growth of young black oaks, it burst upon me 
with a commingled roar of barking notes and beating wings, 
that was positively stunning. All around for the space of 
half an acre, the cracking trees were bent beneath multiplied 
thousands of crows, shifting and flapping, with unceasing 
movement ; every one screaming his vociferous caw in bois- 
terous emulation. It resembled a pigeon-roost very closely, 
except that it was not so extensive or grand ; and it differed, 
