clumsy and
awkward enough on the wing compared to the hawk. Time after time
she came down upon them from a point high in the air, like a
thunderbolt, but never seemed to touch them. Twice I saw her
swoop upon them as they sat upon the ground, and the crows called
out in half sportive, half protesting tones, as if saying, "That
was a little too close; beware, beware!" It was like a skillful
swordsman flourishing his weapon about the head of a peasant; but
not a feather was touched so far as I could see. It is the only
time I ever saw this hawk in a sportive or aggressive mood. I
have seen jays tease the sharp-shinned hawk in this way, and
escape his retaliating blows by darting into a cedar-tree. All
the crow tribe, I think, love to badger and mock some of their
neighbors.

How much business the crows seem to have apart from hunting
their living! I hear their voices in the morning before sun-up,
sounding out from different points of the fields and woods, as if
every one of them were giving or receiving orders for the day:
"Here, Jim, you do this; here, Corvus, you go there, and put that
thing through"; and Jim caws back a response, and Corvus says,
"I'm off this minute." I get the impression that it is convention
day or general training day with them. There are voices in all
keys of masculinity and femininity. Here and there seems to be
one in authority who calls at intervals, "Haw-ah, haw, haw-ah!"
Others utter a strident "Haw!" still others a rapid, feminine
call. Some seem hurrying, others seem at rest, but the landscape
is apparently alive with crows carrying out some plan of
concerted action. How fond they must be of one another! What boon
companions they are! In constant communication, saluting one
another from the trees, the ground, the air, watchful of one
another's safety, sharing their plunder, uniting against a common
enemy, noisy, sportive, predacious, and open and aboveboard in
all their ways and doings--how much character our ebony friend
possesses, in how many ways he challenges our admiration!

What a contrast the crow presents to the silent, solitary hawk!
The hawks have but two occupations--hunting and soaring; they
have no social or tribal relations, and make no show of business
as does the crow. The crow does not hide; he seems to crave the
utmost publicity; his goings and comings are advertised with all
the effectiveness of his strident voice; but all our hawks are
silent and stealthy.

Let me