636 
A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
the Hawk, he is accused of doing more mischief than either. 
That he does pull up sprouting corn, destroys chickens, and 
robs the nests of small birds has been repeatedly proved. Nor 
are these all of his sins. He is known to eat frogs, toads, 
salamanders, and some small snakes, all harmless creatures that 
do some good by eating insects. With so many charges against 
him, it may be well to show why he should not be utterly con- 
demned. 
The examination of a large number of stomachs, while 
confirming all the foregoing accusations, has thrown upon the 
subject a light somewhat different from that derived solely 
from field observation. It shows that the bird’s nesting habit, 
as in the case of the Jay, is not so universal as has been sup- 
posed ; and that, so far from being a habitual nest robber, the 
crow only occasionally indulges in that reprehensible practice. 
The same is true in regard to destroying chickens, for he is able 
to carry off none but very young ones, and his opportunities 
for capturing them are somewhat limited. Neither are many 
toads and frogs eaten, and as frogs are of no great practical 
value, their destruction is not a serious matter ; but toads are 
very useful, and their consumption, so far as it goes, must be 
counted against the Crow. Turtles, crayfishes, and snails, of 
which he eats quite a large number, may be considered neutral, 
while mice may be counted to his credit. 
In his insect food, however, the Crow makes amend for 
sins in the rest of his dietary, although even here the first item 
is against him. Predaceous beetles are eaten in some numbers 
throughout the season, but the number is not great. May 
beetles, “ dor-bugs,” or June bugs, and others of the same 
family, constitute the principal food during spring and early 
summer, and are fed to the young in immense quantities. 
Other beetles, nearly all of a noxious character, are eaten to a 
considerable extent. Grasshoppers are first taken in May, but 
not in large numbers until August, when, as might be expected, 
they form the leading article of diet, showing that the Crow is 
no exception to the general rule that most birds subsist, to a 
large extent, upon grasshoppers in the month of August. 
Many bugs, some caterpillars, mostly cutworms, and some 
spiders are also eaten — all of them either harmful or neutral 
in their economic relations. Of the insect diet Mr. E. A. 
