THE BIRDS OF WASHINGTON 



No. I. 



NORTHERN RAVEN. 



A. O. U. Xo. 486a. Corvus corax principalis Ridgw. 



Synonym. — Formerly called the A.mickr-ax Raven. 



Description. — ^Color uniform lustrous black; plumage, especially on breast, 

 scapulars and back, showing steel-blue or purplish iridescence ; feathers of the 

 throat long, narrow, pointed, light gray basally ; primaries whitening at base. 

 Length two feet or over, female a little smaller; wing 17.00-18.00 (438); tail 

 10.00 (247) ; bill 3.20 (76.S) ; depth of bill at nostril i.oo (28.5) ; tarsus 2.68 

 (68). 



Recognition Marks. — Large size, — about twice as big as a Crow ; long 

 rounded tail ; harsh croaking notes ; uniform black coloration. Indistinguishable 

 afield from siniiatits. 



Nesting. — A'cst: a large but compact mass of sticks, lined with grass, wool, 

 cow-hair, etc., placed high in fir trees or upon inaccessible cliffs. Eyijs: 4-7 (8 

 of record), usually 5, pale bluish green or olive, spotted, blotched, and dashed 

 with greenish brown and obscure lilac or purple. Av. size, 1.90 x 1.33 (48.26 x 

 33.78). Season: April 15; one brood. 



General Range. — "Arctic and Boreal Provinces of North America ; south 

 to Eastern British Provinces, portions of New England, and Atlantic Coast of 

 United States, higher Alleghenies, region of the CTreat Lakes, western and 

 northern Washington, etc." (Ridgway). 



Range in Washington. — Found sparingly in the Cascade and Olympic 

 Afountains, more commonly along the Pacific Coast. 



Migrations. — Resident but wide ranging. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814), Ed Biddle : Coues, Vol. 

 IL p. 18=;.] Corvus carnivorus Bartram, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 

 pp. 561, 3fe, 563. (T). C&S. L'. D'( ?). B. E. 



Specimens.— (U. of. W.) Prov. C. 



