1902 
J une 2 
• ' 
A Musical 
Crow 
Crossing the river at about 9 A. M. I landed at the 
stone boat-house and was walking rapidly through the swampy 
woods immediately behind it when my attention was attracted 
by a variety of odd notes which evidently came from the top 
of a leafy oak that overhung the cart path some thirty 
yards ahead. First there would be a short, full whistle, 
next a gurgling sound as of water escaping from the neck of 
a bottle, next a succession of clucks or of short choking 
or gasping cries, finally one or more rich, liquid and really 
musical notes. These sounds were given in a connected series 
but they were usually separated by intervals of a second or 
t’tfo and their author would frequently cease uttering them 
for a minute or more and then begin again. I had about come 
to the conclusion that I was listening to the voice of an 
escaped Parrot when a ragged old Crow with two or three 
primaries missing from each wing started from the oak and 
flew off over Arnold's pasture. I remember hearing (as well 
as seeing ) a Blue Jay indulge in a closely similar perfor¬ 
mance near the cabin a year or two ago. 
