Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/354

318 shot, besides the multitudes of young birds killed in their nests. Must I add to this slaughter other thousands destroyed by the base artifice of laying poisoned grain along the fields to tempt these poor birds ? Yes, I will tell you of all this too. The natural feelings of every one who ad- mires the bounty of Nature in providing abundantly for the subsistence of all her creatures, prompt me to do so. Like yourself, I admire all her wonderful works, and respect her wise intentions, even when her laws are far beyond our Umited comprehension.

The Crow devours myriads of grubs every day of the year, that- might lay waste the farmer's fields ; it destroys quadrupeds innumer- able, every one of which is an enemy to his poultry and his flocks. Why then should the farmer be so ungrateful, when he sees such services ren- dered to him by a providential friend, as to persecute that friend even to the death ? Unless he plead ignorance, surely he ought to be found guilty at the bar of common sense. Were the soil of the United States, like that of some other countries, nearly exhausted by long continued culti- vation, human selfishness in such a, matter might be excused, and our people might look on our Crows, as other people look on theirs ; but every individual in the land is aware of the superabundance of food that exists among us, and of which a portion may well he spared for the feathered beings, that tend to enhance our pleasures by the sweetness of their song, the innocence of their lives, or their curious habits. Did not every Ame- rican open his door and his heart to^the wearied traveller, and afford him food, comfort and rest, I would at once give up the argument ; but when I know by experience the generosity of the people, I cannot but wish that they would reflect a little, and become more indulgent toward our poor, humble, harmless, and even most serviceable bird, the Crow.

The American .Crow is common in all parts of the United States. It becomes gregarious immediately after the breeding season, when it forms flocks sometimes containing hundreds, or even thousands. Towards autumn, the individuals bred in the Eastern Districts almost all remove to the Southern States, where they spend the winter in vast numbers.

The voice of our Crow is very different from that of the European species which comes nearest to it in appearance, so much so indeed, that this circumstance, together with others relating to its organization, has induced me to distinguish it, as you see, by a peculiar name, that of Corvus Americanus. I hope you will think me excusable in this, should my ideas prove to be erroneous, when I tell you that the Magpie of Europe