*'V 
CONCORD. 
Vi 
1892 
^lept emb er 1 
Grows 
mobbi ng an 
Owl 
To Ball’s Hill with C. at 11 A, M., landing at 
and rambling over Holden’s Hill on our way down river. 
As vie were skirting the eastern base of this hill, 
a large, broad-winged bird started from an oak and flew out 
over the meadow. I did not see it at first but C.,who did, 
thought that it was an Owl. The question was quickly settled 
in the affirmative by the Crows, who the next moment began 
cawing frantically and collecting from far and near to assail 
their hated enemy. Judging by the sound(for we could see 
nothing through .the dense foliage) the cha.ee led first out * 
over the Great Meadows and then turned back. Finally it 
became evident that the Owl had alighted in o;:e of the trees 
at the southern base of the hill.4^ I advanced slowly and with 
great caution and presently saw at least thirty Crows in 
the top of a tall chestnut. Some were sitting quietly on 
the branches, others hopped or flitted excitedly from branch 
to branch, while still others circled just above the top 
of the tree occasional^ dashing madly down through the foliage. 
Their cawing was at times almost deafening while at others 
they would relapse into nearly or quite perfect silence. 
The clamor usually started abruptly (probably at some move¬ 
ment on the part of the Owl), lasted half a minute or more, 
and then gradually lessened. At its height it formed 
a perfect roar of angry sounds which had little of the usual 
Crow quality, reminding me by turns of the hoa.rse barking of 
l 
