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THE PRIZE ESSAY CONTESTS

The prize altered for the best account of the habits of the Crow has been awarded to Master Fred T. Morison. of Montclair, New Jersey. whose article appears below. Among other articles on this subject sent in competition, those by the following are deserving of especial mention: Maurice J. Clausen. Toronto. Ont.; Stewart Mackie Emery, Morristown, Nt ].; Edmund W. Sinnott. Bridgewater, Mass. and Abe Tout. York. Nebraska. _

‘The editor‘s object in olifering prizes is to encourage original observation. and, as in writing a general account of the habits of a given species one is apt to draw more or less unconsciously on what has previously been written. it is proposed. in the future. to make the essays more original by having them based wholly on personal observation. The next subject. therefore, will be ‘Notes on the Birds of February and March.’ The article should be a summary. between 700 and 300 words long, of one’s observations during these months. and should be sent to the editor in April. The pri'le offered for the article displaying the best powers of observation and description is any bird»hook or books to the value of two dollars.

The Prize Crow Essay

BY FRED 1'. MORISON (aged u).

ONE year ago last Februaryl was suddenly taken very sick. obliging me to leave school and spend many months in the country. The

time was spent with relatives in northwestern Pennsylvania. but a short distance from Lake Chautauqua. N. Y. I there found an excellent chance to study birds, which I did, when able. until my vacation was over. I saw birds of many kinds. but once having had a tame Crow 1 took great interest in the wild Crows, and now try to tell you about them. It did not take me long to ﬁnd out that the Crows were wiser than the little boy who was studying them.

The Crow when full grown is from 17 to 18 inches long by 37 to 38 inches in extent. His plumage is a glossy black, with violet reﬂections. On one occasion I saw a Crow with some white on it in a ﬂock. The Crow belongs to the ‘Guild of Ground Gleaners,’ a walker. three toes in front, one behind. His bill of fate is quite varied. consisting of snakes, frogs, insects and their larvae, fruit. grains. and. if very hungry. carrion. In the spring he seems fond of following the plow to get cut— worms and other grubs. and later of pulling corn. and still later, some- times Hocks of thousands will swoop down on grain-ﬁelds. when wheat and corn are in the shock. place one of their number on guard to warn them in case of danger. and, unless driven away, leave but little thresh» ing necessary. But if the sentinel sees a sign of danger it gives one

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