CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 279 



was remarkably like the chirp of a robin. Another of the common- 

 est was a weak and rather complaining cry repeated several times. 

 A sharply contrasting one was a pure, clear whistle of one note fol- 

 lowed by a three-syllabled call something like ka-ice'-ah. The regular 

 rallying cry was still different, a loud and striking two-syllabled ka- 

 lohee. 



At the Inn the l)irds spent a large part of their time storing food. 

 Observers who are in the woods in winter should try to find if such 

 stores are utilized. 



P. O. griseus Ridgw. Gk.w Jay. 



Similar to the Oregon jay. but decidedly larger except for feet, and 

 much grayer ; back dark gray instead of brown, and under parts grayish 

 white instead of brownish white. 



Distribution. — From British Columbia south to northern California ea.st 

 of the Coast and Cascade ranges. 



GENUS CORVUS. 



General Characters. — Wing 9 or 

 more; long and pointed; tail mucl 

 shorter than wing; bill compressed. 



much higher than broad ; nasal bris- ^^''^Vvc^i^ 



ties about half as long as bill ; feet V.^:"^ 



stout. Fig. 348. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Feathers of neck gray or white at base. 



2. Feathers of neck pure white at base . . . cryptoleucus. p. 2S(), 

 2'. Feathers of neck dull gray at base. 



8. Bill larger, tarsus stouter. Washington . . principalis, p. 2S0. 



:>'. Bill snuiller. tarsus more slender sinuatus, p. 279. 



r. Feathers of neck not gray or white at base. 



2. Wing Id.O.*). Sitka to Oregon caiirinus. p. 2S2. 



2. Wing 12.1.") americanus, p. 2S1. 



486. Corvus corax sinuatus (ICffv/.)- American Raven. 



Black, futire plniiiage glossed with lustrous ])urplish. tinged with dull 

 greenish on belly ; feathers of throat lanceolate, distinct from one anotlier : 

 }'((ith(rs of neric ilnll yrai/ at hose: nasal tufts covering nu)re than basal 

 half of ujiper mandible.' Lnu/th : LM.r)()-2(;.0O, wing bj.lO-l8.(M). tail 1»-11. 

 e.\|)oscd culmen •J.4n-;!.():). 



Distrihiilion. — Ilesident from upper border of arid Tropical to .Mpine 

 zone in the western United States from the Kocky Mountains to the 

 Pacific coast, and from Canada to (Juatemala. 



Xcst. — Usually on clilfs. a mass of well-interlaced sticks lined with 

 Cottonwood bark. moss, cattle hair, Jind wool. K(j(fs : "> to 7, pea green, 

 olive, or drab, usually ))rofusely spotted and blotched with shades of 

 brown, lavender, and drab. 



F^iixi. — Principally carrion, dead fish and frogs, varied with rodents, 

 mussels, gra.sshoppers, large black crickets, and worms. 



Where tall, bare clifTs rise from the valleys and deep, steep walled 

 canvous cut into the nutuiitain raniics, the hoarse (•r("»aUiug of the 



