CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 281 



The white-necked raven is a typical bird of the hot Lower Sono- 

 ran deserts, where it seems permanently associated with tall yuccas, 

 juicy-fruited cactus, and the thousand thorny things of the half- 

 barren valleys. Half crow and half raven in size, voice, and habits, 

 rrt/ptoleucus is still readily distinguished from either by both size 

 and voice. Social in disposition, the birds gather in crow-like flocks 

 in winter and feed about stockyards and corrals and even in city 

 streets, where they are surprisingly tame considering their shyness 

 outside. Even in the breeding season they are often seen in small 

 companies on the mesas foraging for food or mobl)ing a pair of the 

 big, hoarse-voiced ninuatus which have inadvertently entered their 

 domain. But more commonly they are seen in pairs flying low over 

 the cactus and yucca tops. 



So partial are they to the tall bayoneted yuccas for nesting sites 

 that in western Texas few of these tree -like growths that have 

 reached a height of ten or twelve feet have escaped bearing one or 

 more loads of sticks. Vernon Bailey. 



488. Corvus americanus Aud. American Crow.^ 



Black, whole plumage g-lossed with violet, more strongly on npper parts ; 

 feathers of throat short, blended. Length: 17-21, wing 11.90-13.25. tail 

 6.90-8.00, exposed eulnien 1.80-2.0."). 



Distribution. — North American continent, except extreme arctic re- 

 gions, and Florida in siimnier ; south to northern Mexico. 



Nest. — In trees, bulky, of sticks, weed stalks, and other coarse ma- 

 terials, lined with roots, g-rass, leaves, straw, wool, or hair. J'-^ggs : 4 to 8, 

 from pale bluish green to olive green or olive buff, with irregular spots 

 or blotches in grays and browns. 



Food. — Mice, rabbits, gophers, eggs and young of other birds, grasshop- 

 pers, weevils, cutworms, and many injurious insects ; also grain and fruit. 



The crow excites interest from many points of view. As an in- 

 dividual his droll originality and keen intelligence attract the bird 

 student, as a social animal his famous roosts are a seven days' won- 

 der to his neighbors, while as an econonnc jiroblem at his name 

 friends and foes rise in clamor. His roosts sometimes number a 

 population of 300,000, when his importance as a seed-planter may 

 be well appreciated. But the economic point at i.ssue in discussing 

 him is, does he eat more grubs than corn ? Professor Beal's con- 

 clusion.s, based on the examination of large numbers of crow stom- 

 achs, are that "in the more thickly setth'd parts of the country the 

 crow probably does more good than harm, at least when ordinary 

 precautions are taken to protect newly j^lanted corn antl young 

 poultry against his depredations." The best way to protect corn- 



> Corvus amfricanns hesperis Ridgw. CxLiroRNiA Crow. 

 Sraallpr tlian aiiifriniTtu.i, with relatively Hinaller and more slender bill. 

 Distribution. — From Puget Sound to northern Mexico and east to the Rocky Moun- 

 tain.s. (Ridgway'a Matninl of North Awericnn fiinis, p. 362.) 



