1851.] 



217 



I desire to name this species, which is believed to be hitherto undescribed, 

 after Mr. John Cassin, of Philadelphia, to whose knowledge and indefatigable in- 

 dustry the Academy, of which I have the honor to be a corresponding member, is 

 so greatly indebted in the department of Ornithology. 



NuciFRAGA, Briss. 



23. N. Columbiana, Wils. Clark's Crow, or American Nutcracker. 



The habits of this bird I found, in some respects, resembling the preceding; 

 the character of its flight, however, is quite difTerent, partaking somewhat of the 

 undulating motion of the larger woodpeckers. I met with several flocks in the 

 high pine forests east of Santa Fe, and on the Taos mountain. 



CoRvus, Lhm. 



24. C. coRAx, Linn. Raven. 



The Raven I found everywhere throughout Texas and New Mexico. 



25. C. Americanus, Aud, Common Crow. 



This relative of the foregoing, I met almost as universally in the regions just 

 named. 



It has been remarked by our most distinguished Ornithologist, Wilson, in 

 speaking of the Raven, that " it is a remarkable fact, that where they (the ravens) 

 so abound, the common crow seldom makes its appearance ; being intimidated, 

 it is conjectured, by the superior size and strength of the former, or by an antipa- 

 thy which the two species manifest towards each other." This conclusion I 

 believe to be an error, into which this close observer and most accurate delinea- 

 tor was doubtless led, by some singularity of circumstances that does not often 

 obtain : for I have generally found rather a social feeling existing between these 

 congeners, arising, probably, from the gregarious disposition of each, and the 

 similarity of their food. On reference to my copy of Wilson's work, I find the 

 following note on the margin, which it may not be altogether amiss to transcribe: 

 " At Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee country, Arkansas Ter., the ravens were 

 more numerous than in any other part of the country I have ever visited ; the 

 crows also were very abundant there. During a period of two years and a half 

 that I was at that post, I daily saw the ravens and crows feeding amicably on the 

 same ground, and perched upon the same trees. I have also observed the same 

 thing here. Dated, Fort Scott, Osage country, March, 1S45." 



I may say further, that the same observations were made in Texas and N. 

 Mexico. 



PiCA, Briss. 



26. P. MELANOLEUCA, Vicill. Commou Magpie. 



One pair of these birds was seen near Turkey Creek, in Western Texas, early 

 in November, in the latitude of about 29* 15'. And the fact is only mentioned 

 on account of the rare occurrence of meeting a Magpie so far South. A storm 

 from the North had been prevailing on the plains for three days, and had no doubt 

 brought them with it, from the upper country. During the previous winter none 

 had been seen in N. Mexico, as low as 36 lat. 



Sturnella, Vieill. 



27. S. NEGLECTA, Aud. Western Meadow Lark. 



This bird appeared, in the month of February, in great numbers between the 



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