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 == A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

A Search for the Reedy Island Crow Roost
BY WITMER STONE

Curator of Birds, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

N the Delaware river, just where it begins to widen out into the bay, and midway between the shores of Delaware and New Jersey, lie two long, low islands, known as 'The Pea-patch' and ' Reedy Island. ' Early in the century the former of these was selected b}' the gov- ernment as the site of Fort Dela- ware, and its importance advanced proportionately in the popular mind. Later on. the lower island, which, already boasted of a light-house, be- came further dignified by the estab- ishment of a quarantine station on its banks. Although of little importance be- fore the government claimed them, these islands were by no means un- inhabited, but were, in fact, well- known as a winter resort. The early inhabitants, though much less imposing than the soldiers and health officers who have super- seded them, did not fail to attract attention — even newspaper notoriety : not from their individualities, but from their countless numbers. In fact they were nothing more than ordinary despised black Crows, but Crows in such countless numbers that they could not fail to be noticed. AMERICAN CROW I'liotugraplied from life by V. Gordon Sniitli