CORVID.E — THE CROWS — CORVUS. 283 



mens. I think tlie greater lustre of the plumage is merely the effect of a 

 drier and hotter climate. The differences shown in Plates XX. and XXI. 

 are so very slight as to be of little consequence. 



In cries and habits I have noticed no difference in tlie ravens of various 

 parts of the coast. Being very local in their residence, and scarcely if at 

 all migratory, there is a tendency to run into slight varieties of form, which 

 in some other birds of similar habits we see carried so far as to produce 

 local races or species, separated by various degrees of difference from tlieii' 

 allies. 



Tlie American raven is found in pairs everywhere in California and tlie 

 adjacent regions, being much more numerous tlian in tlie Atlantic States, 

 where few are seen south of the Great Lakes. They frequent, as if by pref- 

 erence, even the most barren desert districts, Ijut are also common near cul- 

 tivated regions. Being omnivorous, and capable of enduring long fasts, they 

 take advantage of the very barrenness and scarcity of water in tlie deserts, 

 so destructive to many animals, and watcli for their death, in order to sup- 

 port their own life by eating them. They foUow trains and herds of cattle, 

 hoping to pick up a dying straggler, and are sure to visit every deserted 

 camp as soon as tlie occupants move off. When nothing better is to be had 

 they eat lizards, snakes, birds' eggs, and in fact everything of an animal na- 

 ture, however far gone to decay. They also occasionally devour grain, pota- 

 toes, etc., but do little damage in tliat way. They will, however, destroy 

 young cliickens, and it is said young lambs, fawns, etc., if they find tliem 

 unprotected. At times they soar like tlie hawks to a great height, espe- 

 cially before storms, Init also when looking out for food. 



In selecting a place for nesting they show much sagacity, sometimes 

 choosing a hole in a lofty perpendicular cliff, at others a high tree very 

 difficult to climl). One nest I found on Santa Barbara Island, built in a 

 cavity under a projecting ledge of rock not more than twenty feet above the 

 water, where the waves dashed almost into it at high tide. Though a much- 

 frequented path passed close above it, the old birds were so wary in their 

 visits that it remained long undiscovered. The young were stiU unfledged 

 in June, much later than on the main-land, where I think they often lay in 

 March, having seen young in a nest at the Straits of Fuca in April. The 

 nest is composed of large sticks, twigs, roots, and various soft materials in- 

 side. The eggs are said to be from three to six, of a pale muddy bluish- 

 green, marked with numerous sjjots and lines of dark oUve-brown. (Nut- 

 tall, of the European species ?) Those of the whole sub-family Corvincc 

 are known to be very similar in colors. 



At Beales's Ranch, south of Tej(jn Pass, and at the eastern edge of the 

 desert, there is a great roosting-place for ravens, which come at dusk from 

 all directions to sleep on the oaks found up the valley. 



