216 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



Note. Occasionally (in Europe) the Crow produces a hybrid with 

 the Hooded Crow, which appears intermediate between the two spe- 

 cies. This circumstance occurs in the south and east of Europe, 

 where the black Crow is rare ; but never happens where both species 

 are common. 



THE FISH CROW, 



(Corvus ossifragus, Wilson, v. p. 27. pi. 37. fig. 2. Philad. Muse- 

 um, No. 1369.) 



Sp. Charact. — Glossy black, with violet reflections ; the chin na- 

 ked ; tail slightly rounded, extending more than an inch beyond 

 the folded wings ; the 4th primary longest ; the 1st much shorter 

 than the 9th ; (length 16 inches.) 



Wilson was the first to observe the distinctive traits of 

 this smaller and peculiar American species of Crow along 

 the sea-coast of Georgia. It is also met with as far north 

 as the coast of New Jersey. It keeps apart from the 

 common species, and instead of assembling to roost among 

 the reeds at night, retires, towards evening, from the 

 shores which afford it a subsistence, and perches in the 

 neighbouring woods. Its notes, probably various, are at 

 times hoarse and guttural, at others weaker and higher. 

 They pass most part of their time near rivers, hovering 

 over the stream to catch up dead and perhaps living fish, 

 or other animal matters which float within their reach ; at 

 these they dive with considerable celerity, and seizing 

 them in their claws, convey them to an adjoining tree, 

 and devour the fruits of their predatory industry at leisure. 

 They also snatch up water-lizards in the same manner; 

 and, last winter, on the broad bosom of the Santee, at 

 Charleston, where they were abundant, I observed a strife 

 between a pair of these birds and a Herring-Gull, whom 

 they attempted to plunder of his legitimate prey. It is 



