The Common Croiv. 
13 
How the Crow should be treated. 
In my opinion the crow should not be the subject of legislation. To make 
it an offence at law to kill a crow would be to put, at least, a nominal res¬ 
triction on the destruction of such crows, for instance, as contract the habit 
of stealing eggs and chickens, and this would be unwise, even if the law 
were not enforced, and the restriction, therefore, merely nominal. Again, 
the shooting or poisoning of the bolder crows that pull sprouting grain or 
steal fruit is so obviously commendable that the law should not interfere 
with the farmers’ efforts in this direction. 
On the other hand, so useful a bird should not be outlawed. As a matter 
of fact, it makes very little difference if he is, for he is eminently well able 
to take care of himself, and any bounty sufficient to pay for the trouble of 
extirpating him would probably bankrupt the State. Considering the 
difficulty of shooting or entrapping him, 6d. per head would be no great 
attraction to hunters, and at this rate it is doubtful if this Colony is able 
to pay for all the crows within its borders. 
The most reasonable way to deal with our sable friend is to frighten him 
away from places where he is liable to do damage, but otherwise to let him 
alone. There are many devices for keeping him at a distance, and a list of 
them will not be out of place here. 
1. Scarecrows .—Probably no object for frightening crows is more familiar 
than some imitation of a man placed in the midst of a field of corn. These 
humorous figures are too well known to require description. They have 
found a corner in the lore and literature of most of the peoples of the world, 
and also, no doubt, in the traditions of the birds themselves, if they have 
traditions. A tradition handed down from cock to fledgling of the brood of 
birds “ born and brought up in the very hat of the identical scarecrow ” set 
up to intimidate them, hardly requires a stretch of the imagination. It is 
certain that the birds soon see through this trick, and take the greatest 
liberties with the person of the scarecrow, alighting on his arms and head, and 
carrying off pieces of his clothes for nest linings. Still, the scarecrow is 
not a failure, and even if he were, one would be sorry to see him become 
extinct. 
2. Windmills .—Toy windmills are easily made, and are effective in 
frightening birds so long as the wind blows, but unfortunately when the 
wind stops the mills follow suit, and at such times the birds become accus¬ 
tomed to them, and no longer fear them, even when in motion. The wind¬ 
mills are most effective placed near, or even on a scarecrow, this combina¬ 
tion, for a time at least, forming a terrifying mystery that is beyond the 
bird’s ability to fathom. 
3. Pendant Tins .—Sheets of bright tin or bright tin-cans hung from poles 
by a string, so as to sway and revolve in the breeze, make a good defence 
against feathered thieves, especially if arranged so as to rattle. 
4. Poles and Strings .—"White cotton twine strung round and across a 
field on poles eight to ten feet high appears to have such a mysterious and 
snare-like look as often to prove highly effective in keeping crows at a 
distance. 
5. Feeding .—It has been found that where crows are in the habit of pulling 
grain the damage may at very slight cost be much lessened by sowing some 
grain on the surface of the ground. Birds are astonishingly quick-sighted, 
and they at once discover and feed upon the grain thus offered them, so that 
