PICICORVUS COLUMBIANUS, CLARKE's CROW. 207 



Ral). — Temperate XorHi America (to 55°, Bichardson), exceptino;, probably, most of 

 the bigh central plains and tbe Southern Rocky Mountains, where the Raven abouuils. 

 Var. caurinus along tbe Pacific coast, from Sitka to Lower California. Var. floridanus 

 is a larger-billed strain from Southern Florida. 



Lieutenant Warren' s Expedition. — 5188, mouth of Powder River; 5189-91, Fort Union, 

 Dakota ; 5192, Vermilion River. 



Later Expeditions. — 60461, La Bont6 Creek, Wyoming. 



The Corvus caurinus is probably not specifically distinct, but may represent a littoral 

 variety, distinguished by its smaller size, and some particular mode of life, circum- 

 stances probably mutually explanatory. It is hardly necessary to recognize "florida- 

 nus" by name, since it merely illustrates the usual relative increase in size of the bill 

 and feet shown by birds of corresponding latitudes. 



Although apparently rare or quite wanting in a great part of the 

 West, in the interior, as above indicated, the Crow occurs along the 

 whole Missouri Kiver. lb is associated in most places with the Kaven, 

 but in general their numbers are reciprocal. The Eaven spreads more 

 over the plains, while the Crow is more partial to the wooded river- 

 bottoms and the immediate vicinity of the water-courses. At Fort 

 Eandall, where the Raven is comparatively rare, the Crow is common 

 and resident. I found many Crows along Mouse River, in Northern 

 Dakota, but no Ravens. I never saw a single Crow in Colorado, New 

 Mexico, or Arizona, where the Raven was ray constant companion dur- 

 ing all my journeying and residence. 



The Fish Crow, which is not found in the Missouri region, has the following syno- 

 nymy : 



CoRVUs ossiFRAGTJS, Wilson. 



Co)-vu8 OHsifragus, WiLS., Am. Oru. v, 1812, 27, pi. 37, f. 2.— Bp., Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 

 39 ; Syii. 1828, .57 ; List, 1838, 27 ; Cousp, i, 1850, 385.— Wagl., Svst. Av. 1827, 

 Corvus No. 12.— NuTT., Man. i, 1832, 216.— Aud., Orn. Biog. ii,"l834, 2G8; v, 

 1839, 479; pi. 146; Syu. 1839, 151; B. Am. iv, 1842, 94, pi. 226.— Bd., B. N. A. 

 1858, 571 ; 1860, 571, pi. 67, f. 2.— Coues &, Phent., Smitlis. Rep. 1861, 414 

 (Washington, D. C, common).— Allen, Pa-. Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 85 (Southern 

 New England, occasional). — Coues, Hid. v, 1868, 286 (the same). — Lawk., Ann. 

 Lye. N. Y. viii, 1866, 289 (New York).— Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii. 1868, 117 

 (South Carolina^.- TuKXiJ., B. E. Pa. 1869, 26.— Coue.s, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1871, 

 26 (North Carolina).— Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 297 (Florida).— Coues, 

 Key, 1872, 162.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 251, pi. 37, f. 7. 



Sab. — Coast of the United States, from New England to Florida. 



PICICORVUS COLUMBIANUS, (Wils.) Bp. 

 Clarke's Crow ; American Nutcracker. 



Comis columhianns, Wils., Am. Orn. iii, 1811, 29, pi. 20, f. 2.— Bp., Obs. Wils. 182.5, No. 

 38 ; Syn. 1828, 57.— Nutt., Man. Oru. i, 1832, 218. 



Nucifraga eohmbiana, AuD., Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 459, pi. 362; Svn. 1839. 156 ; B. Am. iv, 

 1842, 127, 1)1. 235.— Bp., List, 1838, 28.— Nutt., Man. i,'l840, 251. 



Nucifraf/a (rieieorvus) cohimhiuna, Gray, TIand-list, ii, 1870, 9. No. 6165. 



Ficicorvus eolumbianus, Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 384.— Newij., P. K. R. Rci». vi, 1857, pt. iv, 

 83.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 573, 925.— Kenn., P. R. R. Rep. x, 1859, pt. iv, 32.— 

 Coop & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 1860, 212.— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 171 (to Fort 

 Laramie).- Coues, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 91.— Lohd, Pr. Roy. Arty. Inst, iv, 

 121 (British Columbia); Nat. in Vancouver (bnjcdiug near Fort Colville).— 

 Dall &. Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, l^■69, 286 (Sitka). — Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 

 289.— STKV.,U.S.Geol.Surv.T('r. 1870, 465.— Couks. Ibis, 1-72, 52n>i<'graphv).— 

 Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 178.— Holo.-Aiken., I'r. Bost. S(u'. 1-72. 2t».{ ( Wv- 

 oming).— Coues, Key, 1872, 162, fig. 104.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 255, pi. 

 38, f 4. 



"Coi-vus megonijx, Wagl." — (Gray.) 



ITab. — Chictly tlu' conifenms belt of the West, in mountainous regions, from about 

 3.000 feet n\i to the highpst peaks. North to Sitka ( lUxehoff). Northeast to Milk River, 

 Montana (200 miles east of Rocky Mountains., hit. about 49^, Suddoj). East to Fort 



