JIM’S BABIES 
and while the poor crow, bewildered by the 
onslaught of the jays in front, flapped his 
wings and screamed, turning round and round 
to face them, these two jays flew between his 
wings and his body several times, nearly 
upsetting him. At length, either rendered 
desperate by his obstinacy or grown bolder 
with his seeming lack of courage, they seized 
his tail and hung on until each had pulled 
out a feather. This was too much for even 
a crow’s courage, and he left, ignominiously 
defeated by a passel of good-for-nothing 
jays.” 
Much as I sympathized with him, I could 
not but be glad of the accident which enabled 
me to distinguish him with certainty from 
other crows, and from that day my interest in 
him doubled. About this time the low 
chuckings were heard more frequently in 
the old crow’s nest. “ Jim ” redoubled his 
attentions to his mate, and seldom left her 
without a note or two of farewell in a tone 
wholly different from harsh crow caws.” 
He stood guard on a nearer tree now, and 
83 
