68 
SEED DISPERSAL. 
birds which are fond of the fleshy portion outside ; but 
the seed-like nuts are too hard and dry to suit their taste, 
and are rejected and sown in the vicinity, where the ripened 
hips are picked in pieces and eaten. Mice and red squir- 
rels are also fond of the seed-like nutlets of roses, but sel- 
dom secure them from the bushes. Why, do you ask ? 
Because the prickles were most likely placed on the rose- 
bushes to prevent this very thing, and not to annoy the 
lover of flowers, or to prevent her from cutting what she 
needs. 
41. The meddlesome crow lends a hand. — “One of the 
most industrious and persistent seed-transporting agencies 
I know of is that ubiquitous, energetic, rollicking, meddle- 
some busybody, the crow. I have seen crows gather by 
hundreds and have a regular powwow, a mass convention, 
where they seemed to discuss measures and appoint officers. 
At length they get through, and as they start to fly away 
many, if not all, will drop something. I have found these 
to be acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, buckeyes, sycamore 
balls, sticks, eggshells, pebbles, etc. As a crow leaves an 
oak he will pluck an acorn, which he may carry five miles 
and light on a beech tree where something else will attract 
his attention, when he will drop the acorn and maybe pluck 
a pod of beechnuts and fly away somewhere else.” — Prof. 
W. B. Barrows. 
The number of seeds distributed by crows is enormous, 
and consists of many species, including poison ivy and 
poison sumac, wild cherry, dogwood, red cedar, sour gum, 
