OUR HOME BIRDS. 
123 
the industrious, fattening on their labors, and by his 
voracity often blasting their expectations. Hated as 
he is by the farmer, watched and persecuted by almost 
every bearer of a gun, who all triumph in his de- 
struction, had not Heaven bestowed on him intelli- 
gence and sagacity far beyond common, there is reason 
to believe that the whole tribe — in these parts, at 
least — would long ago have ceased to exist/ ” 
“ Is that scare-crows ?” asked Clara. 
“ Yes, dear,” was the reply. “ I know what you 
mean. Scare-crows are devices for driving away 
these birds from the corn-fields, and usually consist 
of the cast-off hat, coat, and trousers of the farmer, 
stuffed with straw and tied on a stick ; and this figure 
sometimes answers the purpose and keeps the crows 
from many a good meal. But they are very sly and 
knowing ; and country-people often say that they can 
smell gunpowder, because it is so difficult to get near 
them with a gun. They have been seen feeding in 
quite a flock on the ground, while one of the number 
was perched on a tree or some other elevation to 
watch for the approach of enemies. If anything 
suspicious appeared in sight, he would utter several 
sharp cries ; and when the danger drew near a regu- 
lar alarm would be given, followed by instant flight. 
“ All sorts of plans have been laid for the destruc- 
tion of crows, and in some places men with guns are 
