THE CROW. 
49 
along, until, fearful of losing his chance, he aims the 
piece at the nearest bird, who, immediately perceiving 
his danger, utters the alarm-note, and the whole flock 
follow his lead beyond the reach of powder. Some- 
times the sportsmen conceal themselves among shrub- 
bery in the track of the Crows as they pass to and 
from their roosting-places, but even here they cannot 
always escape the scrutinizing glance of these ever- 
suspicious birds, for they may be observed to wheel 
to the right or the left of the spot as soon as they 
approach within a short distance of it. A constant 
fear of falling a prey to the murderous gun seems to 
attend the whole life of the poor Crow ; every suspi- 
cious-looking individual is avoided with care, and it 
is almost impossible to come within shooting distance 
of him without great caution. 
But why is it that this bird should thus be an ob- 
ject of common hatred and execration? Simply 
because, as in the case of the Blackbirds, we have 
placed a wrong estimate upon the works of an All- 
wise Creator. What if the Crow does root up the 
corn in some places, compelling the farmer to replant 
and replant until his patience is gone ? The cut- 
worms, of which these injured birds annually destroy 
myriads, are certainly a far worse enemy, and more 
to be dreaded, inasmuch as they appear when the 
crop is far advanced, and accomplish its destruction 
when it is too late to replant. 
The nest of the Crow is generally built in some 
quiet and secluded spot, upon the jutting crag of a 
precipitous rock, or among the thick branches of 
5 D 
