CORVID-E — THE CItOWS. 251 



gathered in long, contimious Hocks iVom tlie iieiulilKjring fields, flving rallier 

 high. All at once they would descend, with zigzag turns, to the low trees, 

 sportively chasing and pecking at one another, and chattering iu the air. 



^Ir. Jolni K. Lord, who enjoyed an unusually good opportunity of compar- 

 ing the habits of our eomniou Crow with those of this species, lias not the 

 slightest doubt as to their distinctness, though so very like in all essential 

 respects, as far as color, form of bill, and other details are concerned. The 

 smaller size of this bird, the difference iu voice, and their habit of building 

 with mud a domed nest, sufticiently demonstrate their difference. This 

 Crow he found principally near the sea-coast ; retiring to the trees at high 

 tide, following out its eblj and retreating before its flood, tliey feed on any 

 marine food they can find. The caw of this species reminded him of the 

 Jackda^\'s of Europe. During the breeding-season they abandoned the coast, 

 from early May resorting by pairs to the interior. Selecting patches of open 

 prairie, they build their nests in the bushes of the crab-ajiple or wild thorn, 

 and something in the manner of the Magpie, arching over the top with 

 sticks, with two openings for entrance and exit on either side. The inside 

 is jjlastered with mud, and lined with a few loose grass-stalks. The eggs he 

 found generally small, and of a lighter color than those of the common Crow. 

 After nesting, they return with their young to the sea-coast, and remain in 

 large flocks. During the breeding-season they feed on small reptiles, fresh- 

 water mollusks, insects, grubs, etc. Mr. Lord noticed them capturing butter- 

 flies flying near their nests. Their eggs range in nundier from five to seven. 



An egg of this species from Sitka measures L62 inches in length by 1.12 

 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, pointed at one end. The ground- 

 color is a light sea-green, with marks and blotches of olive-brown, of \'aryiug 

 size aud different shades. 



Corvus ossifragus, Wilson. 



FISH CEOW. 



Corvus ossifragus, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 27. pi. xxxvii, f. 2. — Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, 

 No. 39. — Ib. Syn. 1828, 5". — Ib. Con.spectus, 1850, 3S5. — Wagleu, Syst. Avium, 

 1827, Corvxis, No. 12. — Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 216. — ArD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 

 268; V, 479, pi. cxlvi. — Ib. Syn. 1839, 151. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 94, pi. 

 ccxxvi. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 571, pi. bcvii, f. 2. — Samuels, 363. — Allen, 

 B. E. Fla. 297. 



Sp. Char. Fourth qiiill longest ; second rather longer than seventh ; first shorter than 

 the ninth. Glossy black, with green and violet reflections; the gloss of the belly 

 greenish. Length, about 15..J0 ; wing, 10.50 ; tail, less than 7.00 ; tarsus shorter than 

 the middle toe and claw. 



Hab. Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to Florida. 



The Fish Crow of the Atlantic States is readily distinguishable from the 

 common Crow by the mtich smaller size (16 inches instead of 2ii; wing, 



