EASTERN CROW 257 



dozen or 20. At tliis season they seem to lead an aimless kind of 

 existence, meandering here and there, flying low over the mud flats or 

 open fields in a persistent search for food. Sometimes their wanderings 

 take them long distances, going hither and thither until a carcass or 

 other food supply is located. At all times they are alert and suspicious, 

 always proceeding toward food with caution, often alighting on con- 

 venient vantage points to carefully inspect the surroundings and to make 

 sure no harm is in store for them. Finally an individual more auda- 

 cious, perhaps hungrier than the others, approaches to test out the situ- 

 ation. If he succeeds in escaping harm the others quickly join him 

 in active competition to gorge themselves. At such times one bird 

 may act as a sentinel to give warning in the event of approaching danger. 

 Edward J. Reimann in correspondence concerning crows seen in 

 winter in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa., writes : "Crows in winter, 

 especially when ice has formed in the waterways, will be found fre- 

 quenting the low flats of streams and creeks left bare by the low tide. 

 They can be seen congregated in immense flocks feeding on the seeds 

 of arrow-arum (Peltandra virginica). When the rivers are full of drift 

 ice, crows seem to take a particular delight in perching on the cakes 

 and traveling up and down stream with the tide. On some occasions 

 crows were seen to be eating fish frozen in the ice." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Most of North America; migratory in the northern regions. 



Breeding range. — The crow breeds north to Alaska (probably Kodiak 

 Island, Seldonia, and Hinchinbrook Island) ; southern Mackenzie (Fort 

 Simpson and Grandin River) ; southern Keewatin (50 miles south of 

 Cape Eskimo) ; southern Quebec (Onigamis, Godbout, and Mingan 

 Island) ; and Newfoundland (probably Port au Port and St. John's). 

 The eastern limits of the range extend southward along the Atlantic 

 coast from Newfoundland (St. John's) to southern Florida (Royal Palm 

 Park and East Cape). The southern limits extend westward along 

 the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from southern Florida (East Cape) to 

 Texas (Houston and Kerrville) ; northern New Mexico (Glorieta, 

 Santa Fe Canyon, and Santa Clara) ; central Arizona (White Moun- 

 tains and the Salt River Bird Reservation) ; and probably northern 

 Baja California (Guadalupe). West to probably Baja California 

 (Guadalupe) ; California (San Diego, Buena Vista Lake, Stockton, and 

 Red Blufi") ; Oregon (Warner Valley and Silver Lake) ; Washington 

 (Camas, Westport, and Everett) ; British Columbia (Stanley Park, 

 Gull Island, and Massett) ; and Alaska (Forrester Island. Sitka, and 

 probably Kodiak Island). The crow is also resident in Bermuda. 



