'^°l89i!'^'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 439 



484. Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.)- Canada Jay. 



Tolerably uumerous in the wooded couatry, even to its northern and 

 eastern limits ; but none were observed by us in the Barrens proper 

 west or east of Horton River, nor on the Arctic coast. While snow is 

 still on the ground it usually builds its nest in spruce or tamarac trees — 

 often in the middle of a swamp — on the branches close to the trunk and 

 well concealed from view, and at a height of about nine or ten feet. 

 They are constructed of hay and feathers, supported underneath by 

 twigs and willow sticks laid crosswise and partly interlaced. On 11th 

 May, 1863, an Indian discovered a nest and one egg perfectly fresh, 

 along with two j'oung birds a few days old. Another nest contained 

 four eggs, the contents of which were in a more or less developed stage 

 of incubation. It is very probable that the one referred to, as well as 

 all other specimens of the "Whisky Jack" procured from the lower 

 Anderson and Mackenzie Rivers, may really belong to Ridgway's re- 

 cently determined form of this Jay, P. canadensis fumifrons. 



486. Corvus corax principalis Eidgway. Northern Raven. 



This species is abundant at Fort Anderson and on the lower Lock- 

 hart and Anderson Rivers; and although not seen by us there, it may 

 possibly breed on the shores of the Arctic Sea. All but one of the eight 

 recorded nests were situated on tall pines, and composed of dry willow 

 sticks and twigs and thickly lined with either deer hair or dry mosses, 

 grasses, and more or less hair from various animals. The average num- 

 ber of eggs was six, but instances of seven and ei ght were common. In 

 the mouths of February and March, 1865, a raven became almost do- 

 mesticated at Fort Anderson. At first it fed on garbage outside of the 

 fort with a companion : but shortly after it came alone, alighting within 

 the stockade square, and would allow itself to be very closely approached 

 by the inmates. Several young dogs soon became familiar therewith, 

 and they would even frolic and gambol together. It was never known 

 to attempt to injure the smallest of them, nor did they ever offer to an- 

 noy it. While this raven seemed to have full confidence in the people 

 of the fort it kept at a careful distance from all Indian or Esquimaux 

 visitors. It, however, suddenly- disappeared one day, having probably 

 come to grief. On 11th June, 1863, an Esquimaux brought me an egg 

 of a Pigeon hawk and the head of a crow, having, as he declared, shot 

 it on the nest, which was built on the topmost crotch of a pine tree — the 

 latter therefore probably either ate the other eggs, shells and all, if there 

 were any, or dispossessed the former birds with the view of occupying 

 it herself. 



488. Corvus americauus Audubon. American Crow. 



On 10th May, 1865, an Esquimaux snared the parent bird on a nest 

 which was built on the top of a tall spruce on the Lower Anderson 

 River — a mass of dried twigs and branches lined with hay, mosses, and 



