214 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
larvae, is proscribed as a felon in all civilized countries, 
and, with the wolves, panthers, and foxes, a price is put 
upon his head. In consequence, various means of ensnar- 
ing the outlaw have been had recourse to. Of the gun 
he is extremely cautious, and suspects its appearance at 
the first glance, perceiving with ready sagacity the wily 
manner of the fowler. So fearful and suspicious are they 
of human artifices, that a mere line stretched round a 
field is often found sufficient to deter these wily birds 
from a visit to the corn-field. Against poison he is not 
so guarded, and sometimes corn steeped in hellebore is 
given him, which creates giddiness and death. Accord- 
ing to Buffon, pieces of paper in the form of a hollow cone, 
smeared inside with bird-lime, and containing bits of raw 
meat, have been employed. In attempting to gain the 
bait, the dupe becomes instantly hood-winked, and, as 
the safest course out of the way of danger, the Crow flies 
directly upwards to a great height, but becoming fatigued 
with the exertion, he generally descends pretty near to the 
place from which he started, and is then easily taken. 
Another curious method, related by the same author, is 
that of pinning a live Crow to the ground by the wings, 
stretched out on his back, and retained in this posture 
by two sharp, forked sticks. In this situation, his loud 
cries attract other Crows, who come sweeping down to 
the postrate prisoner, and are grappled in his claws. In 
this way each successive prisoner may be made the in- 
nocent means’of capturing his companion. The reeds in 
which they roost, when dry enough, are sometimes set on 
fire also to procure their destruction ; and, to add to the 
fatality produced by the flames, gunners are also station- 
ed round to destroy those that attempt to escape by flight. 
In severe winters they suffer occasionally from famine and 
