280 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



a hundred individuals." They are also fond of the berries of the 

 Chinese tallowtree (Sapium sebiferum). "The seeds of this tree, which 

 is originally from China, are of a white colour when ripe, and contain 

 a considerable quantity of an oily substance. In the months of January 

 and February these trees are covered by the Crows, which greedily 

 devour the berries." He adds that they eat pears, and are very fond 

 of ripe figs; they do considerable damage to the latter and have to be 

 driven away from the fig trees with a gun. 



According to Mr. Howell (1932), "Scott says that in October the 

 birds congregate in enormous flocks and feed extensively on palmetto 

 berries. Nehrling states that they eat the fruits of the cocos palms. 

 Oranges and tomatoes are sometimes eaten, but apparently the habit 

 is not sufficiently prevalent to result in much damage." 



Harold H. Bailey (1913) says that in Virginia considerable damage 

 is done to the peanut crop. "As the farmers turn their hogs into the 

 peanut fields to fatten on the nuts left in the ground after taking off 

 the vines, the Fish Crows thus rob the hogs of a great amount of food, 

 while many pounds of nuts are taken from the stacks while the peanuts 

 are still on the vines drying." 



Behavior. — The fish crow does not differ materially in its habits from 

 its better-known and larger relative. Its flight is similar, but it is quicker 

 and more given to sailing, giving a few flaps of its wings and then 

 sailing along for a short distance. It often poises in the air, hovering 

 on rapidly beating wings, as it scans the ground or water beneath it 

 for possible food. When a number of these crows are together, they 

 often indulge in circling maneuvers, flying around in a confusing forma- 

 tion and then straightening out and proceeding on their way. Audubon 

 (1842) writes: 



While on the St. John's river in Florida, during the month of February, I saw 

 flocks of Fish-Crows, consisting of several hundred individuals, sailing high in 

 the air, somewhat in the manner of the Raven, when the whole appeared paired, 

 for I could see that, although in such numbers, each pair moved distinctly apart. 

 These aerial excursions would last for hours, during the calm of a fine morning, 

 after which the whole would descend toward the water, to pursue their more 

 usual avocations in all the sociability of their nature. When their fishing, which 

 lasted about half an hour, was over, they would alight in flocks on the live oaks 

 and other trees near the shores, and there keep up their gabbling, pluming 

 themselves for hours. Once more they returned to their fishing-grounds, where 

 they remained until about an hour from sunset, when they made for the interior, 

 often proceeding thirty or forty miles, to roost together in the trees of the 

 loblolly pine. 



Fish crows are more sociable and more nearly gregarious in their 

 habits at all seasons than are their northern relatives. They are seldom 

 seen singly; they often nest in small colonies or groups; and wherever 



