FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
641 
Sjvi^ll Pej DEf-A^T^y. 
4ES-A11 communications and contributions intended for this depart- 
ment should be addressed to HOWARD I. IRELAND, Concordville, 
Del. Co., Pa., or care of Joseph M. Wade, 39 North Ninth St., Phiiada. 
A PET CROW. 
"Way down Jersey, among the pines, I came across one 
of those good old-time taverns, of which our aged relatives 
are always telling us. “One of the kind that use to be 
when they were young.” 
Here I found the standard pets of old-time taverns— a 
pretty daughter and a tame crow. Taking the crow as my 
subject, I leave the pretty girl for the pen of some more ap- 
preciating “ Bohemian.” A crow in preference to a beau- 
tiful female ! Shame ! But my heart is hardened. 
One chilly morning in April, Jim Crow (that was liis 
name), was brought to the tavern by some wicked boys, and 
offered for sale for the small sum of ten cents. Out of pity 
the landlord bought the kidnapped young crow, to the dis- 
may of Jim, and the delight of the youngsters. The infant 
crow was nearly naked, with the exception of a few little 
pin-feathers on his wings. He had been forcibly taken 
from his parental nest of sticks and grape-vine strings, on 
the topmost branch of a tall pine tree, by the boys, at the 
risk of their necks. 
For a long time, despite his warm artificial nest of cotton, 
Master Jim was despondent, and cried incessantly for his 
grave papa and his dear mamma. But he grew and prospered 
on his diet of meat and eel-worms, and in a few weeks 
became a full-fledged crow. His first accomplishment was 
laughing. Early every morning passers-by were astonished 
to hear a gruff voice come from the willow tree in front of 
the old tavern, and on looking up espied Jim gazing side- 
ways at them, his little bright eyes twinkling with merri- 
ment. To be sure his ha , ha, sounded a little like caw , caw , 
but it was a pretty good effort for a crow. Jim is a self- 
made and self-taught crow. He never had any one to teach 
him tricks, like the learned pig and the educated canary. 
He picked up all himself. 
When I first saw him he was busily engaged in tearing 
the buttons from the hostler’s overshirt which was hang- 
ing on the fence, and secreting them in crevices in a rotten 
post. On going to him, he lowered his head, as much as to 
say, “ Scratch my head, sir !” I did so, and he went to his 
work of destruction with renewed vigor. 
“Jim, you blasted rascal!” exclaimed the hostler, on 
seeing the condition of his shirt. He threw a chip at him, 
but the crow caught it in his bill and hopped away. “ Haint 
that crow the darndest bird you ever seed?” remarked the 
hostler on seeing me ; then looking mournfully at his ruined 
shirt, wished Jim in a place where he would need no feathers 
for warmth’s sake. 
Every morning Jim bathed in an old wash-basin. He 
took great delight in this. 
In the course of a few weeks I had occasion to pass 
through the village again. I went to see the crow, and he, 
as usual, bowed his head for me to scratch. To please him 
I did so. But, alas, for the gratitude of crows and men ! 
No sooner had I given his head a touch, than he gave me a 
severe peck on the finger with his iron-like bill. I looked 
astonished; so did the crow. On inquiring of the hostler 
of whom Jim had borrowed shirt-buttons, I learned that 
the crow, tired of having every urchin in the town scratch- 
ing his head, had adopted this stratagem. It was perfectly 
successful. Now you could not hire one urchin in the entire 
village to scratch Jim’s head. Jim followed me for some 
distance, bobbing his head for me to scratch, every time I 
looked at him. But, as the boys say, “I wasn’t taking any.” 
AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Under this heading we propose to give the dates of Agricultural Shows 
which are worthy the attention of fanciers. 
Georgia State Fair. Atlanta, October 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 
and 24. 
POULTRY SHOWS FOR 1874 & 1875. 
No shows will be entered on this list until we are officially notified by 
the Secretary. 
New England Poultry Club. Worcester, Mass., December 
1, 2, 3, and 4, 1874. G. H. Estabrook, Secretary. 
The Eastern Pennsylvania Poultry Association. Doyles- 
town, Pa., December 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1874. Theo. P. 
Harvey, Secretary, Doylestown, Pa. 
Connecticut State Poultry Society. Hartford, Conn., De- 
cember 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19,1874. J. S. Gilmore, Cor. Sec. 
Meadville Poultry and Columbarian Association. Mead- 
ville, Dec. 22, 23, 24, and 25, 1874. A. McLaren, Sec. 
Fanciers Pigeon and Poultry Association. Assembly Build- 
ings, Philadelphia, Christmas week. C. C. Gudknecht, 
Secretary, 133 West Norris Street. 
Maryland State Poultry Association, Baltimore, Jan. 5, 6, 7, 
and 8, 1875. S. H. Slifer, Secretary. 
Lehigh Valley Poultry Association. Allentown, Pa., Jan- 
uary 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1875. John H. Hickman, Secretary. 
Maine Poultry Association. Portland, January 12, 13, 14, 
and 15, 1875. Fred. Fox, Secretary, Portland, Maine. 
Western Pennsylvania Poultry Society. Pittsburg, January 
13 to 20 inclusive. R. F. Shannan, Secretary. 
Ithaca Poultry and Pet Stock Association. Ithaca, January 
20, 21, and 22, 1875. C. V. Fowles, Secretary. 
Massachusetts Poultry Association,. Boston Music Hall, 
January 27 to February 4, 1875. Wm. B. Atkinson, Sec- 
retary. 
Western New York Poultry Society. Buffalo, New York, 
February 10 to 17, 1875. Geo. W. White, Secretary. 
ADVERTISEMENTS 
From reliable parties, on any subject interesting to Fanciers, will be 
inserted at the following rates : 
For one to two months, 
“ three to five months,... 
“ six to eight months,.... 
“ nine to eleven months, 
“ twelve months, 
CHANGED AS OFTEN AS DESIRED. 
No extra charge for cuts or display. Transient advertisements, cash 
in advance; six to twelve months, quarterly in advance. 
About 12 words make a line, and 12 lines make an inch of space. 
Advertisements to be sure of insertion must reach this office by 
the Monday morning mail, previous to the day of publication, otherwise 
they are liable to be left over two weeks. 
ExcVj^MqES. 
^^Advertisements in this Column, of Five Lines, or Forty- 
Eight Words, describing and offering lor exchange only, 
WILL BE ALLOWED AT 25 CENTS FOR EACH AND EVERY INSERTION. 
WILL EX€II ANGE.— One Trio White Leghorns (Pitkin’s Stock) 
for one Trio Am. Dominiques, or White game, Bantams (mine are good 
Birds, will expect the same). 
H. W. PARTELOW, Wakefield, R. I. 
WILL EXCHANGE. — A good single-barrelled shotgun, pouch, 
powder-tiask and wad-cutter, for a trio of good Dark Brahmas hatched 
early this season. Address 
A, RAMSEY, Manor Station, Westmoreland, Pa. 
WILL EXCHANGE. — One Fine Leghorn Cockerel, one Ayles- 
bury Drake, or Dominique Chickens, for Yellow or White Jacobin Pigeons; 
must be fine. What other offers. 
C. B. ELBEN, Pittsburgh. 
TO EXCHANGE. — Black or Buff Cochin Fowls, and Fancy 
Pigeons, for a Double Barrelled Breech loader, central fire, state price. 
J. E. DIEHL, Beverly, N. J. 
WANTED. — In exchange for fancy pigeons, all kinds of native 
American song birds. Address, stating variety and price, 
J. C. LONG, Jr., 39 North Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
20 cents per line. 
17 K “ 
15 “ 
12 “ “ 
10 “ “ 
