CORVID.E — THE CROWS — COKVUS. £87 



tered cattle, and those that die of diseases, etc. In the northern half of the 

 State they also no doubt live in great part on fish. Near the Columliia 

 Eiver they feed much on clams and oysters, carrying the shell high in air, 

 and dropping it until it is broken. If unsuccessful at first they carry it 

 higher, or to a place wliere the ground is harder. Tliey show much sagacity 

 in -watching tlie turn of the tide, and fly in flocks at that moment for their 

 favorite feeding-grounds, in company with the gulls and various waders. 



For some reason they shun particular districts in the breeding-season. 

 During six weeks of spring I did not see one near the east side of the Coast 

 Eange south of Santa Clara, but found them at Santa Cruz, where the only 

 difference was a cooler climate. At the same time they avoided the coast 

 farther north, where perhaps the wind was too strong for them. I never 

 saw one in the CoLjrado Valley, nor near the summits of the Sierra Nevada. 

 According to Dr. Newberry, they are chiefly confined to those districts 

 where oaks flourish. 



At Visalia, where there is an extensive forest of oaks, forming an oasis in 

 the great " Tulare " j^lain (elsewhere either marshy or sterile gravelly 

 prairie), I found very large flocks of this bird, with the same gregarious 

 habits as elsewliere on the coast, and at that time (September) very noi.sy, as 

 if anticipating rain, wliich did not come, however, for some weeks after. 

 Near here was where Dr. Heermann obtained the large specimen called 

 Amcricanus, by him and by Professor Baird. 



During July, 18G6, large numbers of this species came every evening to 

 roost in an alder grove close to the town of Santa Cruz. They gathered in 

 long trains from tlie surrounding field.s, flying ratlier high, and suddenly 

 pitching down toward tlie small trees with zigzag turns, sportively pecking 

 and chattering at each other in the air. Dr. Suckley foimd this crow very 

 abundant on Puget's Sound throughout the year, subsisting in winter on the 

 refuse food and oflal thrown out by the natives from their lodges, and at- 

 tending closely upon the residences of the white settlers. He describes it 

 as very cunning, but tame and impudent, allowing a near approach, and 

 when closely pursued retiring but a short distance. In reference to the 

 habit of dropping clams from a height in order to break the shell, he men- 

 tions tlie amusement afforded by the effort of one of these crows to get at 

 the contents of a clam by dropping it on soft ground, carrj-ing it over and 

 over again to a considerable height, and letting it droj) without the desired 

 result. 



A small species of crow {€'. Mcxkanus), the least of all the continental 

 American species, is common at Mazatlan, and may yet be detected in Ari- 

 zona and Southern California. 



