16 FISH CROW 



Fish Crow : Corvus ossifragus. 



Entirely black, more glossy than the common Crow, and usually 



much smaller. Length, IG inches. 

 Geogkaphic Distribution. — Gulf and Atlantic coast as far 

 , north as southern Connecticut ; resident except at the extreme 



northern part of its range. 



In Washington the Fish Crows are very com- 

 mon, and the black figures may often be seen on 

 the towers of the Smithsonian, when their raven- 

 like croak may be plainly heard and interpreted 

 as a solemn ' never more ' by jocose ornithologists 

 discussing their stuffed brothers inside. In the 

 National Zoological Park they are more common 

 than the ordinary Crow, and may be seen wading 

 in the shallows of Rock Creek. When the other 

 Crows are with them, they may still be readily 

 known, if not by their smaller size, by their 

 hoarse, guttural car, which Mr. Burroughs de- 

 scribes as less masculine than the clear, strong 

 caw of the American Crow. 



