Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Crow
CROW, the Common, or Carrion-crow, Corvus corone, L. a bird sufficiently known: it bears a strong resemblance to the raven, both in its nourishment aud other habitudes. The food of crows is carrion, or similar refuse, and also insects. They are sometimes very destructive in corn-fields, by devouring vast quantities of grain; and were formerly so numerous, and their devastations so great, as to be considered an object worthy of parliamentary redress. An act was, therefore, passed for their destruction, in the 24th of Henry VIII. by which every hamlet was enjoined to provide crow-nets for ten years, and all the inhabitants were obliged to convene and consult, at stated times during that period, concerning the proper means of exterminating these birds. The most successful method of destroying them appears to be the following: A kind of table is to be formed between the branches of a large pollard oak; on which may be laid carrion, or any other meat, prepared with pulverized nux vomica, a poisonous drug brought from the East Indies. By previously accustoming the crows to resort to the place and food, without any addition, they will be induced to take it readily when thus poisoned, and consequently be destroyed. But, though crows occasionally commit depredations in corn-fields, they also devour a multitude of locusts, catterpillars, and other insects (see vol. i. p. 483). Farther, they may, in another respect, be considered as the natural planters of many trees; the kernels of which they disseminate upon the earth; and thus clearly evince that providential wisdom, which has endowed them with an instinct equally beneficial to themselves, by securing a future supply, and by rendering them conducive to the welfare of mankind.