254 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



as the flight of the latter is swifter, they are frequently unsuccessful in these 

 attempts at robbery. Tliis Crow can catch living lish with considerable 

 dexterity, but cannot feed while ou the winj;. 



During the winter and early spring, Mr. Audubon states that these birds 

 feed on various kinds of berries, especially tliose of the Ilex cassinu and of 

 tlie L'oninion holly, and those of the exotic tallow-tree, now so common near 

 Cliarleston (SfiJ/iiu/ia ficbifcra). In -January and February these trees are 

 much resorted to by the Crows, who greedily devour their white and oily seeds. 



Mr. Auilubou found these birds breeding generally on moderate-sized trees 

 of the lubloUy-pine, buildin;'; tlieir nests towards the extremities of the 

 branches, about twenty feet from tlie ground. The nests are smaller than 

 those of the Crow, and are l>uilt of sticks, lined with dry gi'asses and moss, 

 and neatly finished with fine fibrous roots. The eggs are five or six in num- 

 ber, and resemble those of the Crow, but are smaller. 



Two eggs of this species, from St. Simon's Island, measure, one 1.50 

 in length by 1.10 in breadth, the other 1.52 by 1.09. Their gi-ound-color is 

 a light lilue with a slight greenish tinge, marked over the entire egg with 

 small blotches of a light Ijrown. An egg from Great Egg Harl)or, obtained 

 by Wilson, from tlie old Peale Museum, and which may be a faded specimen, 

 has no tinge of blue or green, Ijut a ground of pinkish-gray, marked with 

 smaller bl(.itc]ies and cloudings of dark drab. It measures 1.4G inches iu 

 length by one inch in breadth. 



Gexus PICICORVUS, Boxap. 



Picicorvus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1850, 384. (Type, Oorvus colmnbiamts, WiLs.) 



Gen. Char. Leaden-gray color, with black wiugs and tail. Bill longer than the head, 



considerably longer than the tarsus, 

 attenuated, slightly docurved ; tip 

 without notch. Culraen and com- 

 mi.i!sure curved ; gony.s straight or 

 slightly concave, as long as the tarsi. 

 Nostrils circular, comj)letely covered 

 /by a full tuft of incumbent white 

 bristly feathers. Tail much shorter 

 than the wings, nearly even or 

 slightly rounded. Wing.s pointed, 

 reaching to the tip of tail. Third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills longest. Tarsi 

 short, scarcely longer tlian the mid- 

 dle toe, the hind toe and claw very 

 large, reaching nearly to the middle 

 of the middle claw, the lateral toe 

 little shorter. A row of small scales 

 on the middle of the sides of tarsus. 

 Color of the single species leaden-gray, with black wings and tail 



