124 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
constantly on the lookout for them. They are ac- 
cused of being most destructive to the corn-fields for 
about six weeks after planting-time — of digging up 
the newly-planted grains, and pulling up by the roots 
those that have sprouted, so that the farmer has to do 
his planting a second time, or lose all the labor he 
has bestowed on the soil. But no one remembers the 
myriads of worms, moles, mice, caterpillars, grubs, 
and beetles which they have destroyed ; only their 
pilfering propensities are borne in mind, and war to 
the death is waged against them. It is an added 
enormity that it is so very difficult to surprise them. 
“ This bird with the bad name is much larger than 
any we have been considering, being eighteen and a 
half inches long ; his general color is a glossy blue- 
black, with purple reflections. His voice has been 
compared to the barking of a small dog, and his 
most charitably disposed friend could not call it 
musical. 
“ The crows make their nests about the middle of 
March ; and at this season, and later, they may be 
seen all through the woods in pairs, roosting near the 
tree selected by each couple for their domicil. They 
generally choose high trees for this purpose, though 
sometimes the preference is given to middle-sized 
cedars. The nest is formed of sticks, wet moss, thin 
bark, mossy earth, and lined with over half a pound 
