CORVIDiE — TIIE CROWS — CORVUS. 285 



Corvus caurinus, Baird. 



THE WESTERN CROW. 



Cmvus Americamis, from West Coast. Baird, V. R. Rep IX. Eirils, 566 (!n part). — Heer- 

 MANN, X. vi. 52. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 211. 



Coitus osslfnii/iis, from West Coiist, of autliuis. Nuitali,, Man. I. 2ci cd. 221, 227. — New- 

 berry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 82. 



Corutis caurinus, Baird, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 569. — Cooi'EK and Sockley, XII. iii. Zool. 

 of W. T. 211 ; pi. xxiv. (PI. xxiii. C. Amcricams.) 



Sp. Cii.\r. Fourth quill longest, second longer than sixth, third and fifth about equal, 

 first shorter than ninth. Color black, glossed with pui-jjle. Tail nearly even. Tarsus 



longer than middle too and claw. Female the smallest. Length, 1.5.00 to 1S.50 ; extent, 



30.00 to 33.50 ; wing, 10.50 to 12.7.") ; tail, 6,50 to 7.80. Iris brown ; bill and feet black. 



Hall. Pacific Coast from San Diego north ; east to the Northern Rocky Mountains. 



Professor Baird, in lii.s description of Corvus caurimis, remarks that " but 

 for tlie slight difference in size it would be difficult to tell skins " from 

 those of C. Aincricaiius. " Indeed, it is almost a question whether it be 

 more than a dwarfed race of the other species." He, however, separates 

 specimens from California and Fort Vancouver, " on account of their larger 

 size," including them with G. Aimriainus. But liy reference to his table of 

 measurements, it appears that they were all below tlie average measurements 

 he gives for that species (length, 19.00 to 20.00 ; wing, 13.00 to 13.50 ; tail, 

 about 8.00), even measuring the stretched .skins. 



I am now satisfied that there is but one species of crow on this side of 

 the continent, and if distinguishable at all from the Eastern, it is by its 

 smaller size, less graduated tail, more gregarious lialiits, and different voice. 

 The circumstance of their feeding much on fish towards the North is I 

 think of secondary importance, as they are decidedly omnivorous, and feed 

 on fish wherever they can get them more easily than other food. In this 

 State fish are not so numerous on the sea-shore and river-banks as near the 



