75 
the ruffed grouse to the red-eye and chippy, robbed before 
my own eyes, and have evidence of many more. Every 
season, late in May or early in June, the crows make a raid 
on the birds nesting in the shade trees along our village 
streets and in orchards and private grounds, systematically 
searching every tree, destroying nests, and eating or carry- 
ing away the eggs and young.” Now, eight years later, he 
rates the crow as the most destructive of all the natural ene- 
mies of birds. 
Here is an experience from another county : “ For the 
past ten years, during the breeding season of the birds, 
from the last of May through June and July of each year, 
I have watched the crows eat the eggs and little birds. I 
have watched them start at 4 o’clock in the morning, or a 
little later, and hunt over the shade trees that line the 
streets for the eggs and young birds, even going into the 
trees that stand close to the buildings, where people would 
not think a crow would ever go. This is done, of course, 
before people rise; and as soon as any one stirs out they 
will leave, but will begin the next morning just the same. 
Any one can plainly see what they are up to. After the 
breeding season they will not visit the shade trees until the 
breeding season begins the next year, and then they are 
ready to follow them up again.” (Anson O. Howard, East 
Northfield, Franklin County.) 
“ I have many times seen crows eating robins’ eggs, and 
have also seen them flying from nests with the young birds 
in their beaks. This was probably food for their own 
young. I often see them very early in the morning, 
searching trees near houses where small birds have nests.’* 
(Samuel S. Symmes, Winchester, Middlesex County.) 
“ I have seen crows come to the eaves of a house and 
take young robins from the nest.” (S. F. Stockwell, Au- 
burn, Worcester County.) 
“ Crows are remarkably plentiful here. Have not known 
a nest of young birds to mature this year. Saw a crow 
take young out of nests right by the house.” (W. J* 
Hunter, Lincoln, Middlesex County.) 
“ I have seen crows drive birds from the nest, and take 
