FISH CROW. 107 



teresting information concerning the habits and 

 pecuHarities of this very inteUigent bird. 



In spring Crows leave the roost and scatter over the 

 country to breed, building their nests high in trees, 

 generally in pines. They are most likely to build on 

 the edge of the woods, l^ut sometimes in a detached 

 tree in the open. The nest is composed of sticks, 

 corn-husks, and other coarse material, all very sub- 

 stantially put together, and lined with grass, leaves 

 and rags. It is about two feet in diameter outside. 

 Four to six eggs are laid, generally bluish-green, 

 tliickly marked with brown. " The young are born 

 blind and naked, and remain in the nest about three 

 weeks." 



If a young Crow is taken about the time he is ready 

 to leave the nest, he readily adapts himself to new 

 conditions and makes an interesting pet. He will 

 want raw ^%% and bits of fresh meat at first, but after- 

 wards any scraps from the table are acceptable. A 

 tame Crow shows no preference for corn, and only 

 eats it when he can get nothing else. 



Fish Crow: Corvus ossifragns. 



The Fish Crow is smaller than the Common Crow, 

 but the difference is not perceptible in the field. He 

 can there be distinguished only by his voice, which 

 has a pronounced nasal quality. Instead of rai*.', he 

 cries car, "as if through his nose." 



Fish Crows will not be found far from water. They 

 are extremely common about Washington and are 

 almost always seen in the Smithsonian grounds and 

 along Rock Creek in the Zoological Park. They are 

 said to be more destructive to the eggs and nestlings 



