CROW. 
85 
So universal is the hatred to Crows, that few states, either 
here or in Europe, have neglected to offer rewards for their 
destruction. In the United States, they have been repeatedly 
ranked in our laws with the wolves, the panthers, foxes, and 
squirrels, and a proportionable premium offered for their 
heads, to be paid by any justice of the peace to whom they 
are delivered. On all these accounts, various modes have 
been invented for capturing them. They have been taken in 
clap nets, commonly used for taking pigeons ; two or three 
live Crows being previously procured as decoys, or, as they 
are called, Stool-Crows. Corn has been steeped in a strong 
decoction of hellebore, which, when eaten by them, produces 
giddiness, and finally, it is said, death. Pieces of paper 
formed into the shape of a hollow cone, besmeared within 
with birdlime, and a grain or two of corn dropt on the bottom, 
have also been adopted. Numbers of these being placed on 
the ground, where corn has been planted, the Crows, 
attempting to reach the grains, are instantly hoodwinked, fly 
directly upwards to a great height ; but generally descend 
near the spot whence they rose, and are easily taken. The 
reeds of their roosting places are sometimes set on fire during 
a dark night, and the gunners having previously posted them- 
selves around, the Crows rise in great uproar, and, amidst the 
general consternation, by the light of the burnings, hundreds 
of them are shot down. 
Crows have been employed to catch Crows, by the following 
stratagem : A live Crow is pinned by the wings down to the 
ground on his back, by means of two sharp, forked sticks. 
Thus situated, his cries are loud and incessant, particularly if 
any other Crows are within view. These, sweeping down 
about him, are instantly grappled by the prostrate prisoner, 
will engage to kill or banish the Crows from their roost on the Pea Patch, 
and give security to return the money on failure. 
“ The sum of five hundred dollars being thus required, the committee beg 
leave to address the farmers and others of Newcastle county and elsewhere on 
the subject.” 
