TWO PET CROWS

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1908, Page 37

TWO PET CROWS

That birds are capable of exercising the faculty of memory, even if they are not able to reason, is shown by the actions of two crows away out in San Francisco. A grocer doing business on Mission street in San Francisco had two large and handsome crows. He caused a large cage to be fitted up for these feathered pets in one of his front show windows ; in fact, the crow home occupied most of the space of the large window, so that they had abundant wing room to flit hither and thither at will.

These birds had been obtained by the grocer when they were very young— mere fledgelings — and he had raised them. They were mates, male and lemale, and responded to the names of Jack and Jill. They were unusually ebony-hued, and their plumage was very glossy. At all hours of the day a crowd, especially of women and children, was gathered in front of the show window watching these jolly birds.

As the grocer always fed the pets and cared for them, they grew very fond of him. He often turned them loose in the store, when they would fly about, perching on his shoulders and head, cawing joyfully all the time. In other ways the crows showed their affection for their owner.

At the time of the earthquake and great fire the windows were smashed by the shock, and the birds made their escape. They were terror-stricken, flying wildly about. Of course, the grocer was too much engrossed with his own losses and troubles to pay any heed whatever to his winged pets. Later the awful fire swept over the place, destroying everything.

The birds disappeared, and the grocer very naturally supposed they had perished in the flames. Days, weeks, and months passed, and finally the grocer ceased to think about his lost birds. In the meantime he had built a temporary wooden building on the old site, and resumed his former business. However, he occasionally thought of his old pets, and lamented their fate.

Late one evening, while the grocer sat working at his desk, judge of his great surprise, and no less joy, when in flew the two crows just as if they had fallen suddenly from the skies I Both birds sailed into the room, made several circles, cawing cheerily, and finally perched one on each shoulder of their old master. They joyously flapped their wings, and seemed perfectly delighted to be again at home. They were in excellent condition, plump, and their plumage sleek and glossy, as in the old days. When the grocer figured up the time, he found that the birds had been absent about sixteen months. How they had escaped from the burning city, where they had been all the time, and why they had suddenly concluded to return are mysteries in the biid, world. Probably they had flown to the mountains and forests and joined other wild crows. Evidently they had grown ' homesick,' and, like the cat, * came back '; but they had no difficulty in locating their old quarters. The grocer has fitted up his show window and duly installed Jack and Jill, to their great delight. The grocer has jocularly labelled the big cage and its occupants ' Fire.' Larger crowds than ever now throng outside the window to read the sign and watch the happy pair.