CLASS AVES. 



171 



Cor' r-us cu' rax. 



nestling being larger, obtains the greater share of food, 

 and its foster companions 

 are generally soon stifled or 

 starved.* 



Crows and species of Jays 

 pass so insensibly into each 

 other as hardly to present a 

 dividing line. The Raven, 

 though rare in the Eastern 



-i , -, 



States, is generally distrib- 



uted throughout North America.! It exhibits wonderful 

 FIG. 293. sagacity in eluding the hunter, seem- 



ing to detect at a glance the differ- 

 ence between a person going quietly 

 about his business and one "on mis- 

 chief bent." 



The Blue Jay's pleasing plumage 

 is in startling contrast with the harsh 

 notes of its ordinary song. Chough 

 irritable and quarrelsome, it has been 

 tamed and taught to pronounce cer- 

 tain words. It is of great service in 

 planting the seeds of forest-trees and 

 in devouring, during the winter sea- 



son, the eggs of the destructive tent-caterpillar. 



Cy an u' ra cris ta' ta. 

 Blue Jay. ( .) 



* Their dead bodies are probably removed by their parents, as they are never 

 found near the nest, which would be the case, if, like the Cuckoo of Europe, they 

 were thrown out by the young Cow-bird. 



t The Raven is generally considered as of evil omen. It is easily tamed and 

 taught to repeat sentences. Charles Dickens, in his preface to " Barnaby Rudge," 

 gives his amusing experience with tame Ravens. Our common Crow (Cor' m* 

 ameriaTnvs) can be distinguished from the Raven by being much smaller and 

 by having its throat-feathers oval and close ; while those of the Raven are sharp 

 and scattered. The J?ook ( C. fru gil' e gu.i), so familiar to every European traveler, 

 and which congregates in flocks about churches and old ruins, does not eat 

 carrion, 



