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Letter: Letters : Counting crows

Published 28 March 1998

From Nigel Walker

Penrith, Cumbria

Your article about counting abilities reminded me of when a friend of mine
used to go shooting crows
(“It all adds up”, 7 March, p 42).

If the crows saw him coming with a gun, they would all fly off and stay out
of range until he went away. He tried hiding in some trees, but the crows stayed
out of range until he came out. Then he got a friend of his to go and hide in
the trees with him for a few minutes. When his friend came out of the trees, the
crows returned—and got shot.

I think this shows that crows can count to one, but not two.

Issue no. 2127 published 28 March 1998

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