An Unusual Observation on the Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) at 
Lubec, Maine. — I have seen non-raptorial birds of various species attack 
other birds in self defense, or in defense of their nests and young, but 
today (December 31, 1913) while on a tour of the local places where 
birds are to be found in winter, I made an observation new to me, 
and while actually interesting and thrilling, it was exasperating and dis- 
appointing. While walking along a stretch of sandy beach with a com- 
panion we suddenly flushed a belated shore bird, without having time to 
bring our glasses to bear upon it; from the shape of its wing, mode of flight 
and general coloration we were quite sure that it was a Sanderling. The 
bird took a course directly ahead of us, and along the water’s edge; so we 
followed hoping to positively identify it. 
Three hundred yards in advance of us, sitting on the beach was a flock 
of about two hundred Crows quietly basking in the sun. As soon as our 
bird drew near them it swerved out over the water, when one of the Crows 
rose and flew directly at it. — 
The smaller bird dodged repeated attacks and was drawing ahead, when 
another Crow at the farther end of the flock, seeing the escape flew out to 
intercept it and turned the Sanderling (?) back, giving the first assailant an 
opportunity to swoop down and deliver a telling blow with its wing. The 
smaller bird fell, but recovered itself before touching the water. Then 
to avoid its two assailants it was obliged to fly towards the land and directly 
over the large flock of Crows, when about twenty of their number rose in a 
bunch and bore the unfortunate to the beach, all endeavoring to get at it 
at the same time. As soon as we discovered the little fellow’s real danger, 
we ran and shouted, but they did not heed us until close upon them, when 
they flew off leaving nothing but a small piece of breast with feathers 
attached, the body being carried away. 
We followed them up from one place of alighting to another hoping to 
find a wing or some part of the body but without success. — Clarence H. 
Clark, Lubec, Maine. XX.XI. /?/</• 
Crows Destroying Quail. — According to my observation during the 
last twenty years, crows destroy tremendous numbers of the eggs and 
nestlings of our useful songbirds. In fact, in my opinion, this destruction 
more than offsets what good they do in destroying injurious insects or 
vermin. I had never, however, until this past winter heard of Crows 
destroying Quail ( Colinus virginianus virginianus), except when young, 
but a neighbor living near my place at Flowerfield, Suffolk County, Long 
Island, has reported that late last winter when there was a considerable 
fall of snow which covered the ground for ten days or two weeks, a flock 
of thirteen quail which wintered on his premises were all killed by crows. 
He frequently saw a considerable number of Crows following the bevy of 
quail, harassing them and tiring them out, and finally killing and eating 
them. — John Lewis Childs, Floral Park, N. Y. 
4^1 XXX n/. e*t /? 
