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One Year 25 Cents Single Copy 3 Cents 
Published by the Wisconsin Audubon Society, at Appleton, Wisconsin. 
Entered as second-class matter May 16, 1904 at Appleton, Wis., under the act of Congress of Mar. 3, ’79. 
VOL X. ~ JUNE, 1907. No 2. 
A Tame Cron?. 
Have you ever seen a tame crow? If 
not 1 hope you may have an opportun¬ 
ity. His playful tricks make him an in¬ 
teresting bird. • I was visiting recently 
in one of the quiet attractive suburbs of 
Chicago. In the afternoon my niece and 
I were sitting on the porch when I was 
attracted by a crow who settled himself 
upon an old wagon in a nearby lot. He 
proved to be a pet crow which is some¬ 
what unusual. 
For several weeks he had been in the 
habit of flying to the porch, much to 
the amusement of the family, but this 
day, for some reason, perhaps shyness, 
he preferred to keep some distance away. 
My niece, who often played with him 
finally walked over to the lot and tried 
to coax him to come over. He followed 
her onlv for a short distance. After 
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some persuasion she picked him up care- 
fullv in her hands and carried him to the 
chair where I was seated. He objected 
somewhat by uttering a strenuous “Caw;” 
“Caw;” it did not take long, however to 
make new acquaintances, and the crow 
soon settled himself for a playful after¬ 
noon. 
“Jim,” as the bird had been named, 
was a find large fellow with glossy black 
feathers and sparkling black eyes always 
in the alert. He seemed to enjoy people 
greatly and showed us many of his 
curious tricks. 
He picked a bright salmon-colored 
nasturtium flower out of one’s hand, and 
nodded his head roguishly, apparently 
pleased with the brilliant color of the 
blossom. No matter how closely it was 
held in the palm of the hand, he thrust 
in his long black bill and struggled to get 
the flower. Bits of fruit and cake he took 
fearlessly from the hand. A pear core 
was a delectable morsel to be hidden for 
future enjoyment. 
This same bird picked up a bright 
brass button, carried it in his mouth and 
put it under the edge of the rug lying on 
the lawn, then with his beak pulled the 
the rug over it to conceal his prize more 
effectively. If one were sewing his 
favorite pastime was to perch on the arm 
of the chair and try to snatch the glisten¬ 
ing steel scissors and needle. Jim was 
not unmindful of the little babies play¬ 
ing ball on the lawn. He would fly for 
the ball and try to take it in his mouth. 
His interest in croquet was equally 
keen. Chasing the moving balls seemed 
to give him considerable pleasure. The 
crow’s trickery and even his tendency 
toward theft w r ere emphasized in another 
incident. The kitten of the house was 
given a bone, but scarcely had she tasted 
her food when “Jim” swiftly caught it up 
in his beak, and was off for the topmo-t 
branch of a tall tree, there to enjoy i is 
supper. 
> Anne Turner Greenmnn. 
