1 5 
uttering a few low, contented "caws” to himself. 1 often imagined 1 
heard him "smack his lips” in anticipation of hisomelet, and he usually 
got it in spite of all I could do. 
I do not believe the robbing of wild birds’ nests by this species is nearly 
as common as we are led to believe ; at least I have not found it so, al¬ 
though I have been witness to an occasional raid made by this bird upon 
the nests of the Purple Crackle and Robin. 
I have examined the stomachs of a number of young in the nest with 
the following result : April 30, 1892. Four large young. Time, 10 a. m. 
No. i contained broken bits of corn, a leg bone of a meadow mouse, 
several grubs, some weed seeds, and refuse from barnyard manure. No. 
2. Three bones of a mouse or some other small rodent, broken bits of 
corn, two grains of oats, and some mouse hair. No. 3. Three imper¬ 
fect grains of corn, three small bones, and grubs, worms, and refuse from 
the barnyard. No. 4. Grubs, bones of small rodent, three grains of 
corn, and some weed seeds. 
April 30, 1892, 12 noon. Two young, one day old. White grubs only. 
May 12, 1892, 7 a. m. Five young, six days old. No. 1. Large 
quantity of earth worms. No. 2. Earth worms and three beetles. No. 
3. Earth worms and three beetles. No. 4. Earth worms and one piece 
of corn. No. 5. Earth worms and three beetles. 
May 8, 1894. 11:30 a. m. One young, two days old. Larvae of some 
large insect, probably that of. a moth. 
When a Crow has tasted the tender chicken, he is in some respects like 
the man-eating tiger, for he will return again and again until he is shot, 
or his intended victims are placed well out of his reach. Verily, while 
" meat is at hand he must eat.” If the farmer and poultry fancier would 
encourage that sturdy little warrior, Tyrannies tyrannies (King bird) to 
nest about the place, they would require no other safeguard during the 
nesting season at least. 
During the Winter of 1893 and 1894, I often had occasion to be in a 
certain little valley that lies on the borders of Chester and Delaware 
Counties ; many times I have seen the vast flocks just setting out for their 
morning meal. During the mild weather they roost in the hard-wood 
timber of this neighborhood. The birds usually fly in an irregular train 
with no particular order, but I have noticed exceptions to this. One morn¬ 
ing just at daybreak, I observed the advance guard of about five hundred 
rise simultaneously from the woods to my left, and without a single 
"caw” flyover my head. They were about six deep, the long front 
dressed with military precision. They appeared to be on the same level. 
This battalion was followed by four more flocks, all rising successively 
