JOHN.

No. XII.

Had I succeeded in obtaining some living crows, they were to be employed

in the following manner: After having made a sort of concealment of

brushwood within good gun-shot distance, the crows were to be fastened

by their wings on their backs between two pegs, yet not so closely as to

prevent them from fluttering or struggling. The other crows, who are

always very inquisitive where their species is in any trouble, were

expected to light down near the captives, and the latter would certainly

seize the first that came near enough with their claws, and hold on

pertinaciously. This would have produced fighting and screaming in

abundance, and the whole flock might gradually be so drawn into the

fray, as to allow many opportunities of discharging the guns upon them

with full effect. This I have often observed--that when a quarrel or

fight took place in a large flock or gang of crows (a circumstance by no

means infrequent), it seemed soon to extend to the whole; and during the

continuance of their anger all the usual caution of their nature

appeared to be forgotten, allowing themselves at such times to be

approached closely; and, regardless of men, fire-arms, or the fall of

their companions, continuing their wrangling with rancorous obstinacy. A

similar disposition may be produced among them by catching a large owl,

and tying it with a cord of moderate length to the limb of a naked tree

in a neighbourhood frequented by the crows. The owl is one of the few

enemies which the crow has much reason to dread, as it robs the nests of

their young, whenever they are left for the shortest time. Hence,

whenever crows discover an owl in the day-time, like many other birds,

they commence an attack upon it, screaming most vociferously, and

bringing together all of their species within hearing. Once this clamour

has fairly begun, and their passions are fully aroused, there is little

danger of their being scared away, and the chance of destroying them by

shooting is continued as long as the owl remains uninjured. But one such

opportunity presented during my residence where crows were abundant, and

this was unfortunately spoiled by the eagerness of one of the gunners,

who, in his eagerness to demolish one of the crows, fixed upon some that

were most busy with the owl, and killed it instead of its disturbers,

which at once ended the sport. When the crows leave the roost, at early

dawn, they generally fly to a naked or leafless tree in the nearest

field, and there plume themselves and chatter until the day-light is

sufficiently clear to show all objects with distinctness. Of this

circumstance I have taken advantage several times, to get good shots at

them in this way. During the day-time, having selected a spot within

proper distance of the tree frequented by them in the morning, I have

built with brushwood and pine-bushes a thick, close screen, behind which

one or two persons might move securely without being observed. Proper

openings through which to level the guns were also made, as the

slightest stir or noise could not be made, at the time of action,

without a risk of rendering all the preparations fruitless. The guns

were all in order and loaded before going to bed, and at an hour or two

before day-light we repaired quietly to the field, and stationed

ourselves behind the screen, where, having mounted our guns at the

loop-holes, to be in perfect readiness, we waited patiently for the

day-break. Soon after the gray twilight of the dawn began to displace

the darkness, the voice of one of our expected visitants would be heard

from the distant forest, and shortly after a single crow would slowly

sail towards the solitary tree, and settle on its very summit. Presently

a few more would arrive singly, and in a little while small flocks

followed. Conversation among them is at first rather limited to

occasional salutations, but as the flock begins to grow numerous, it

becomes general and very animated, and by this time all that may be

expected on this occasion have arrived. This may be known, also, by

observing one or more of them descend to the ground, and if the gunners

do not now make the best of the occasion, it will soon be lost, as the

whole gang will presently sail off, scattering as they go. However, we

rarely waited till there was a danger of their departure, but as soon as

the flock had fairly arrived, and were still crowded upon the upper

parts of the tree, we pulled triggers together, aiming at the thickest

of the throng. In this way, by killing and wounding them, with two or

three guns, a dozen or more would be destroyed. It was of course

needless to expect to find a similar opportunity in the same place for a

long time afterwards, as those which escaped had too good memories to

return to so disastrous a spot. By ascertaining other situations at

considerable distances, we could every now and then obtain similar

advantages over them.

About the years 1800-1-2-3-4, the crows were so vastly accumulated and

destructive in the State of Maryland, that the government, to hasten

their diminution, received their heads in payment of taxes, at the price

of three cents each. The store-keepers bought them of the boys and

shooters, who had no taxes to pay, at a rather lower rate, or exchanged

powder and shot for them. This measure caused a great havoc to be kept

up among them, and in a few years so much diminished the grievance, that

the price was withdrawn. Two modes of shooting them in considerable

numbers were followed, and with great success: the one, that of killing

them while on the wing towards the roost; and the other, attacking them

in the night, when they have been for some hours asleep. I have already

mentioned the regularity with which vast flocks move from various

quarters of the country to their roosting-places every afternoon, and

the uniformity of the route they pursue. In cold weather, when all the

small bodies of water are frozen, and they are obliged to protract their

flight towards the bays or sea, their return is a work of considerable

labour, especially should a strong wind blow against them: at this

season, also, being rather poorly fed, they are of necessity less

vigorous. Should the wind be adverse, they fly as near the earth as

possible, and of this the shooters, at the time I allude to, took

advantage. A large number would collect on such an afternoon, and

station themselves close along the foot-way of a high bank, over which

the crows were in the habit of flying; and as they were in a great

degree screened from sight as the flock flew over, keeping as low as

possible, because of the wind, their shots were generally very

effectual. The stronger was the wind, the greater was their success. The

crows that were not injured found it very difficult to rise, and those

that diverged laterally only came nearer to gunners stationed in

expectation of such movements. The flocks were several hours in passing

over; and as there was generally a considerable interval between each

company of considerable size, the last arrived, unsuspicious of what had

been going on, and the shooters had time to recharge their arms. But the

grand harvest of crow heads was derived from the invasion of their

dormitories, which are well worthy a particular description, and should

be visited by every one who wishes to form a proper idea of the number

of these birds that may be accumulated in a single district. The roost

is most commonly the densest pine-thicket that can be found, generally

at no great distance from some river, bay, or other sheet of water,

which is the last to freeze, or rarely is altogether frozen. To such a

roost the crows, which are, during the day-time, scattered over perhaps

more than a hundred miles of circumference, wing their way every

afternoon, and arrive shortly after sunset. Endless columns pour in from

various quarters, and as they arrive pitch upon their accustomed

perches, crowding closely together for the benefit of the warmth and the

shelter afforded by the thick foliage of the pine. The trees are

literally bent by their weight, and the ground is covered for many feet

in depth by their dung, which, by its gradual fermentation, must also

tend to increase the warmth of the roost. Such roosts are known to be

thus occupied for years, beyond the memory of individuals; and I know of

one or two which the oldest residents in the quarter state to have been

known to their grandfathers, and probably had been resorted to by the

crows during several ages previous. There is one of great age and

magnificent extent in the vicinity of Rock Creek, an arm of the

Patapsco. They are sufficiently numerous on the rivers opening into the

Chesapeake, and are everywhere similar in their general aspect. Wilson

has signalised such a roost at no great distance from Bristol, Pa.; and

I know by observation that not less than a million of crows sleep there

nightly during the winter season.

To gather crow heads from the roost, a very large party was made up,

proportioned to the extent of surface occupied by the dormitory. Armed

with double-barrelled and duck guns, which threw a large charge of shot,

the company was divided into small parties, and these took stations,

selected during the day-time, so as to surround the roost as nearly as

possible. A dark night was always preferred, as the crows could not,

when alarmed, fly far, and the attack was delayed until full midnight.

All being at their posts, the firing was commenced by those who were

most advantageously posted, and followed up successively by the others,

as the affrighted crows sought refuge in their vicinity. On every side

the carnage then raged fiercely, and there can scarcely be conceived a

more forcible idea of the horrors of a battle, than such a scene

afforded. The crows screaming with fright and the pain of wounds; the

loud deep roar produced by the raising of their whole number in the air;

the incessant flashing and thundering of the guns; and the shouts of

their eager destroyers, all produced an effect which can never be

forgotten by any one who has witnessed it, nor can it well be adequately

comprehended by those who have not. Blinded by the blaze of the powder,

and bewildered by the thicker darkness that ensues, the crows rise and

settle again at a short distance, without being able to withdraw from

the field of danger, and the sanguinary work is continued until the

shooters are fatigued, or the approach of day-light gives the survivors

a chance of escape. Then the work of collecting the heads from the dead

and wounded began, and this was a task of considerable difficulty, as

the wounded used their utmost efforts to conceal and defend themselves.

The bill and half the front of the skull were cut off together, and

strung in sums for the tax-gatherer, and the product of the night

divided according to the nature of the party formed. Sometimes the

great mass of shooters were hired for the night, and received no share

of scalps, having their ammunition provided by the employers: other

parties were formed of friends and neighbours, who clubbed for the

ammunition, and shared equally in the result.

During hard winters the crows suffer greatly, and perish in considerable

numbers from hunger. When starved severely, the poor wretches will

swallow bits of leather, rope, rags, in short, anything that appears to

promise the slightest relief. Multitudes belonging to the Bristol roost

perished during the winter of 1828-9 from this cause. All the

water-courses were solidly frozen, and it was distressing to observe

these starvelings every morning winging their weary way towards the

shores of the sea, in hopes of food, and again toiling homewards in the

afternoon, apparently scarce able to fly.

In speaking of destroying crows, we have never adverted to the use of

poison, which in their case is wholly inadmissible, on this

account--where crows are common, hogs generally run at large, and to

poison the crows would equally poison them: the crows would die, and

fall to the ground, where they would certainly be eaten by the hogs.

Crows, when caught young, learn to talk plainly, if pains be taken to

repeat certain phrases to them, and they become exceedingly impudent and

troublesome. Like all of their tribe, they will steal and hide silver or

other bright objects, of which they can make no possible use.