JIM’S BABIES 
and yet the objects of absurd pride to Mr. 
and Mrs. “Jim.” Never were babies more 
admired or more coddled. One of the 
parents was at the nest constantly with 
dainties for the darlings. I am sorry to say 
these too often consisted of the young nest- 
lings of other birds. We knew this by the 
way “ Jim ” robbed nests. English spar- 
rows, song sparrows, and field larks were his 
victims. Eggs of all varieties, young frogs, 
minnows, refuse from the kitchen, were all 
carried to those nestlings. 
It takes a surprisingly long time for young 
crows to develop, and “ Jim’s ” babies were 
no exceptions to this rule. For fully four 
weeks they were kept in the nursery and 
were model infants. 
The last ten days I could see them stand 
on the edge of the nest, and, stretching each 
little wing with their claws, look about over 
the swaying tree-tops and straight at the sun 
with blue eyes that never blinked. About 
this time, with the help of a small boy, a 
photo was taken of the five in their nest ; but 
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