COMIC ZOOLOGY.

Genna, Corvus.—­The Common Crow.

This Ravenous bird abounds in all temperate regions, and is a fowl of sober aspect, although a Rogue in Grain.  Crows, like time-serving politicians, are often on the Fence, and their proficiency in the art of Caw-cussing entitles them to rank with the Radical Spoilsmen denounced by the sardonic DAWES.  In time of war they haunt the battle-field with the pertinacity of newspaper specials, and have a much more certain method of making themselves acquainted with the Organization of military Bodies than the gentlemen of the press who Pick the Brains of fugitives from the field for their information.  In time of peace the Crow leads a comparatively quiet life, and it is no novel thing to see him walking in the fields devouring with great apparent interest the Yellow-Covered Cereals.  Agriculturists have strong prejudices against the species, and allege, not without reason, that large Crow Crops indicate diminished harvests.  The most persistent enemy of the Crow, however, is the martin, which attacks it on the wing with unfaltering Pluck, and compels it to show the White Feather.

This variety of the genus corvus was well known to the ancients.  Those solemn Bores, the Latin augurs, were in the habit of foretelling the triumph or downfall of the Roman Eagles by the flight of Crows, and St. PETER was once convicted of three breaches of veracity by a Crow.  The bird has also been the theme of song—­the carnivorous exploits of three of the species having been repeatedly chanted by popular Minstrels.

A Greek author has described the Crow as a cheese-eater—­but that’s a fable.  Though fond of a Rare Bit of meat, it does not care a Mite for Cheese.  Nothing in the shape of flesh comes amiss to this rapacious creature; yet, much as it enjoys the flavor of the human subject, it relishes the cheval mort.  During the late war, our government, with exemplary liberality, purchased thousands of horses to feed the Southern Crows.  The consequence was that our Cavalry Charges were tremendous.

The appearance of the Crow is grave and clerical, but it is nevertheless an Offal bird when engaged on a Tear.  It generally goes in flocks, and the prints of its feet may be seen not only on the face of the Country, but in many instances on the faces of the inhabitants.  Naturalists do not class it with the edible fowls.  There may be men who can eat crow, but nobody hankers after it.  The story of the man who “swallowed three black crows” lacks confirmation.  Looking at the whole tribe from a Ration-al point of view, however, we have no hesitation in pronouncing them excellent food—­for powder.  In this category may be included the copper-colored Crows on our Western frontier.

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THE CHURCH MILITANT.

That Brooklyn is a City of Churches has long been known to people of average intelligence.  The following item, however, taken from a daily paper, is very suggestive of the old saying, “The nearer the church,” etc.