CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 281 



The white-nc'ckcd raven is a typical bird of the hot Lower Soiio- 

 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, 

 cryptoleucus 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 al)Out 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 mobbing a pair of the 

 big, hoarse-voiced sinnatus 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. Veknon Bailey. 



488. Corvus americanus Aud. American Crow.i 



Black, wliole plumage glossed with violet, moi-e strongly on upper parts ; 

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

 G.90-8.00, exposed culmen l.SO-2.0.5. 



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

 g-ions, and Florida in summer ; south to northern Mexico. 



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

 terials, lined with roots, grass, leaves, straw, wool, or hair. Eggs: 4 to 8, 

 from pale bluish green to olive green or olive buff, with irreg'ular spots 

 or blotches in grays and browns. 



Food. — Mice, rabbits, gophers, eg-gs and yoimg- of other birds, g-rasshop- 

 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 aud 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 economic problem at his name 

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

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

 be well appreciated. But the econonnc point at issue in discussing 

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

 clusions, l)ased on the examination of large numbers of crow stom- 

 achs, are that " in the more thickly settled parts of the country the 

 crow i^robably dcfes more good than harm, at least when ordinary 

 precautions arc taken to protect newly planted corn and young 

 poidtry against his depredations." The best way to protect coru- 



• Cormis amrricarni.s /lesperi.^ Ridgw. California Cnow. 

 Smaller tliaii (iiinricdini.s, with relatively Hinaller and more slender bill. 

 Dixtrihudon. — From PuRet Soiind to northern Mexico and east to tlie Kocky .Moun 

 tains. (Ridgway'8 Manual of Aoith .linerican Birds, p. 36'J.) 



