BIRDS OF KANSAS. 381 



Corvus corax sinuatus (Wagl.). 



MEXICAN RAVEN. 

 PLATE XXIV. 



Formerly a resident; never common; may still occasionally 

 breed in unsettled localities, but disappear as the settlements in- 

 crease, and probably at the present time only a visitant to the 

 State. 



B. 423, 424. R. 280. C. 338. G. 141, 185. U. 486. 



Habitat. Western United States; south to Guatemala. I 

 am unable to give its northern and eastern range to where it is 

 replaced by the northern form, C. corax principalis. 



Sp. Char. Adult: Tail graduated; feathers of throat lanceolate; those of 

 neck, jugulimi and fore part of back gray at bases., Entire plumage glossy 

 black, the upper parts, especially wings and tail, with rich purplish reflections. 

 {Bidgicay.) 



Stretch of 



Length. whig. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 25.00 50.00 17.25 10.00 .60 2.75 



Female... 22.50 46.00 15.75 9.00 .50 2.60 



Iris dark brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black. 



These magnificent stately birds are quite common in the Rocky 

 Mountain region and westward, especially in Lower California 

 and the adjacent isles, where I found them breeding in abund- 

 ance on the steep, rocky cliffs, subsisting and feeding their little 

 ones almost exclusively upon the eggs and young of the Gulls, 

 Boobies and the many water birds that nest in communities, 

 where they are to be seen silently perched upon a tree or rock, 

 ready the moment the parent birds leave a nest to dash down, 

 kill the young or pierce an egg with their bill and carry it safely 

 away. A bold, sagacious bird, and, when not shot at, will closely 

 follow the intruder in order to rob the nests of the birds frio-ht- 

 ened away. They are indiscriminate eaters, greedily devouring 

 offal, carrion, fruits, grain, etc. Young lambs and pigs often 

 help to make up their bill of fare. 



They are not garrulous like the Jay, or as noisy as the Crow, 

 but they can and do croak vigorously at times, and with various 

 modulations. They also have a habit, when at rest, of utterino- 

 in a low voice a self-satisfied, chuckling, cawing attempt at song. 

 They are naturally solitary, unsocial birds, and when found in 



