178 
CROW. 
thief and hoarder of curiosities, hiding in holes, corners and 
crevices, every loose article he can carry off, particularly small 
pieces of metal, corn, bread, and food of all kinds; is fond of 
the society of his master, and -will know him even after a long 
absence; of which the following is a remarkable instance, and 
may be relied on as a fact. A very worthy gentleman, now liv- 
ing in the Gennesee country, but who, at the time alluded to, 
resided on the Delaware, a few miles below Easton, had raised 
a Crow, with whose tricks and society he used frequently to 
amuse himself. This Crow lived long in the family; but at 
length disappeared, having, as was then supposed, been shot 
by some vagrant gunner, or destroyed by accident. About ele- 
ven months after this, as the gentleman, one morning, in com- 
pany with several others, was standing on the river shore, a 
number of Crows happening to pass by, one of them left the 
flock, and flying directly towards the company, alighted on the 
gentleman’s shoulder, and began to gabble away with great vo- 
lubility, as one long absent friend naturally enough does on 
meeting with another. On recovering from his surprise, the 
gentleman instantly recognised his old acquaintance; and en- 
deavoured by several civil but sly manoeuvres to lay hold of 
him; but the Crow, not altogether relishing quite so much fa- 
miliarity, having now had a taste of the sweets of liberty, cau- 
tiously eluded all his attempts; and suddenly glancing his eye 
on his distant companions, mounted in the air after them, soon 
overtook and mingled with them, and was never afterward seen 
to return. 
The habits of the Crow, in his native state, are so generally 
known, as to require little further illustration. His watchful- 
ness, and jealous sagacity in distinguishing a person with a gun, 
are notorious to every one. In spring, when he makes his ap- 
pearance among the groves and low thickets, the whole feath- 
ered songsters are instantly alarmed, well knowing the depre- 
dations and murders he commits on their nests, eggs and young. 
Few of them, however, have the courage to attack him, except 
the King-bird, who on these occasions teases and pursues him 
