204 CORVUS CORAX, RAVEN. 



ing it to favor. It is obviously of great service iu the destruction of 

 iusects. But it lias oue very bad trait, i^erhaps not generally kuown. 

 Like the Crow, a not distant relative, it is fond of birds' eggs and ten- 

 der nestlings, and it destroys a great many, particularly Robins. Cow- 

 ard-like it lurks about the Robin's vicinity until the parents are away, 

 when it pounces on the nest, seizes an egg or a young one, and hastily 

 retreats. But wary and vigilant as it is, sometimes it is caught in the 

 act, and forced to seek safety by rapid flight from the impetuous attacks 

 of the owners. I had been aware of its fondness for eggs for several 

 years, but only lately learned of this carnivorous propensity, which is 

 doubtless the natural outgrowth of its habit of sucking eggs." About 

 Washington, the present year (1874:), the Grackles appeared in consider- 

 able number early in March, frequenting the various parks of the city 

 with Robins, Bluebirds, Red-wings, and other early arrivals. 



The following (the onlj^ additional North American species of Quiscalus), has not 

 been found in the Missouri region : 



QuisCALUS MAJOR, Fieill. 



a. major. 



Gramla iarifa, Wils., Ind. Am. Orn. vi, 1812. 



Quiscalus hnritus, Peab., Rep. Oru. Mass. 1839, 285 (Massachusetts ; probably a mis- 

 take). — LiNSL., Am. Jonrn. xliv, 1843, 2G0 (Connecticut ; probably a mistake). 



Gracula quisccda, Okd, Journ. Phila. Acad, i, 1818, 253. 



Quiscalus major, Vieill., Nouv. Diet, xxviii, 1819, 487.— Bp., Am. Ore. iv, 1825, 35, pi, 

 4 ; List, 1838, 28 ; Cousp. i, 1850, 424.— Nutt., Man. i, 1832, 192.— Aud., Orn. 

 Biog. ii, 1834, 504 ; v, 1838, 480; pi. 187; Syn. 1839, 146; B. Am. iv, 1842, 52, 

 pi. 220.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 555.— Dress., Ibis, 1865, 494 (Texas).- Cass., Pr. 

 Phila. Acad. 1866, 409. — Allen, Pr. Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 85 (^Massachusetts; 

 probably a mistake).— Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 2.-'6 (New Enghuid ; prob- 

 ably a mistake).— Allen, Bull, M. C. Z. ii, lb71, 295 (Florida).— Coues, Pr. 

 Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 117 (South Carolina).- Coues, Ibis, 1S70, 367 (biogra- 

 phy).— Coues, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1871, 25 (North Carolina).— Coues, Key, 1872, 

 1G(»._C0UES, Check-list, 1874, No. 224.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 222, pi. 

 .36, f. 3, 4. 



Chalcoplianes major, Temm., Cab. Mus. Heiu. 1851, 96. 



b, maerourus. 



Quiscalus maerourus, Sw., An. iu Men. 1838, 299, f. 51«.-ScL., P. Z. S. 1856, 300 (Cor- 

 dova); Ibis, i, 1859, 20 (Guatemala) ; ibid, ii, 1860, 112 (Honduras).— Bi>., B.N. 



A. 1858, 554'; 1860, 554, pi. 58; Mex. B. Surv. ii, 1859, Birds, 20, j)]. 20.— Cass., 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. 1860, 138 (Carfhagcna).- Cab., .T. f. O. is, 1861, 82 (Costa 

 Rica).— Lawu., Ann. Lvc. viii, 181 (Nicaragua) ; ibid, ix, 104 (Costa Rica).— 

 Dress., Ibis, 1865, 493 (Texas).— Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1867, 410 (critical).— 

 SuMiCH., Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1869, 553 (Vera Cruz).— CoUES, Key, l!i72, 160, hg. 

 159. 



Chalcophanes maerourus, Cab., Mus. Hein. i, 1851, 196. 



Quiscalus major var. maerourus, B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 225, pi. 36, f. 1, 2. 



Bdb.—T\x<i typical form along the South Atlantic and Gulf coast, from the Cnrolinas 

 to Texas ; not authentic in New England. Var. maerourus from Texas south into Cen- 

 tral America. 



Family CORVIDiE : Crows, etc. 



Sitbfamily CORVINJE : Ravens and Croics. 

 CORVUS CORAX, Linn. 



Raven. 



Corvus corax, Linn., auctorum ; Planches Enlum. 495.— Naum., Vog. pi. .53.— Gould, 



B. E. pi. 220.— SciiL., Not. 8ur Corv. pi. 1.— Wils., Am. Orn. ix, 1825, 136, pi. 

 75, f 3.— Bp., Syu. 1828,56.— Dough., Cab. Nat. Hist, i, 1830, 270, pi. 24.-Sw. & 

 Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 290.— Nutt., Man. i, 1832, 202.— Aud., Oru. Biog. ii, 



