Ghe ©row Court.

a. NY stories are told relating the intelligence of birds and
% animals, yet there isa general disposition on the part of
t people, generally, to doubt that birds and animals are moved
by any higher power than what we term “instinct.” Many
instances can be related, showing that the lower animals
xis possess something very closely allied to intelligence. I
had often heard stories told about “crow justice,” and I could
never believe them until I had a chance one beautiful day in De-
cember to attend their court. As I was riding on the public road,
two miles north of a little town in Kansas, I noticed great flocks
of crows flying about me, and, when nearing a cottonwood grove,
in making a turn to the right, I saw hundreds of them perched in
¢» the trees in solid lines to the end of the rows. At once there
@ came to me the stories I had heard that crows were well-governed
birds, and when I saw this fine-looking body I concluded that it sat there to
give a trial to some offender of some sort. I stopped my horse, half fearing the
crafty birds would fly—adjourn court, or continue the case. What was my
delight to find that no attention was paidto me. It takes a man with a gun to
disturb these mocking blacklegs.

From a tree at the head of a row, where ten crows sat, there came such
loud and rapid cawing as I never heard before from so few throats, and every
now and then all the flock joined in making the noise, and the chorus thus
furnished was all that could have been asked if noise was desired. After two
or three minutes of this racket a silent rest was taken, which was broken by a
single crow, who made a little talk in the crow dialect, followed quickly by
others.

Things became more dignified, and my interest in the proceedings was so
intense that when a fine, fat bird submitted a few remarks and was applauded
by general cawing from every bird present, I could scarcely keep from clap-
ping my hands.

Suddenly twelve crows few down the lines twice and back, and all was
still as they didso. I was amusedand startled. This might be a jury of crows
on parade. Andl believe it was. After two or three crows had again spoken
the twelve flew down the lines once more; but this time there were fierce caws
from every crow in answer to caws from the twelve. My fancy explained: The
jury was seeking its verdict in public opinion, and the excited crows, like revo-

     
 

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