204 BIKDS OF BERMUDA. 



Family CORVID^. 



Sub-family CORVINE. 



Genus Corvus, Linn. 



57. Corvus americanus, Aud. American common Crow. 

 Corvus corone, Wils., Bp., Sw. & Eicli., Nutt. 

 Corvus americanus, Aud., Bp., Nutt., Maxim., Gir., and of authors generally. 



Length, 19.00 to 20.00; wing, 13.00 to 13.50; tail, about 8.00. 



Hah. — Temperate North America, excepting, probably, most of the 

 high central plains and the Southern Eocky Mountains, where the 

 Eaven abounds (Coues). Bermuda (resident). 



The early history of this bird, so far as the Bermudas are concerned, 

 is somewhat obscure. In Smith's " History of Virginia" (to which colony 

 Bermuda at one time belonged), date 1623, Crows are mentioned as 

 being numerous in the islands. Colonel Wedderburn says, however 

 (Nat. in B., p. 33) : "A few of these birds are generally to be seen be- 

 tween the light-house and Hamilton. I have never found their nests, 

 but they are known to have bred, as a few young Crows were observed 

 near Warwick Church during the first week of April, 1849. It is sup- 

 posed that they were introduced from Nova Scotia some few years 

 :ago." Mr. Hurdis did not, apparently, find the species numerous, for 

 he says (Nat. in B., p. 66) : "In August, 1854, eleven of these Crows were 

 observed associating together at Gibbs Hill by the late Colonel Oakley, 

 Fifty-sixth Eegiment. This was double the number which had hitherto 

 frequented those i)arts, and arose, doubtless, from the young of that 

 season." It is somewhat difficult to reconcile the above evidence. Can 

 the species, once numerous, have become extinct, and have then been 

 introduced again ? This is possible, but I am inclined to the belief that 

 there have been Crows, more or less, in Bermuda since 1623, their wary 

 nature and their partiality for the dense cedar groves causing them to 

 have been but little noticed. However it may be, they are numerous 

 now ; so much so that a price has been set on their devoted heads by a 

 recent enactment — half-a-crown a bird, and sixpence an egg. That this 

 is a wise and necessary measure is universally conceded, as they do 

 much damage in the breeding season by destroying young poultry, and 

 the eggs and young of the other resident birds. As is well known, this 

 species is gregarious, except during the actual time of breeding. As 

 soon as the young are well able to fly the scattered families consort 



