THE BIRD BOOK 



488. Crow. Corvus 



brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos . 



Range. — Whole of North America south of 

 the Arctic Circle; most abundant in eastern 

 United States; rare in many localities in the 



west. 



in Crow 



American Raven 



Greenish white 



These birds, against which the hand of every 

 farmer is uplifted, are very shy and cunning: 

 as is well known, they nearly always post a 

 sentinel in some tree top to keep watch while 

 the rest of the flock is feeding in the field be- 

 low. In the fall and winter, large numbers of them flock, and at night all roost 

 in one piece of woods; some of the "crow roosts" are of vast extent and 



contain thousands of individuals. Crows nest 

 near the tops of large trees, preferably pines, 

 either in woods or single trees in fields. Their 

 nests are made of sticks and lined with rootlets, 

 and the eggs, which are laid in April or May, 

 range from four to seven in number, are a bluish 

 or greenish white, sparingly or very densely 

 yj|jfc' speckled, spotted and blotched with various shades 



of brown and lilac. Size 1.60 x 1.15. 



Bluish white 



488a. Florida Crow. Corvus 

 brachyrhynchos pascuus. 

 Range. — Florida. 

 This variety has a slightly shorter tail and wings than the last. 



4Q0. Fish Crow. Corvus ossifragus. 



Range.— Northwest coast from Oregon to Alaska. 



This small Crow which is but 16 inches in length, is found only on the coast, 

 where they feed upon shell fish and offal. They nest, as do the Ravens, either 

 on ledges or in tree tops. The eggs resemble those of the common Crow, but 

 are smaller. Size 1.55 x 1.05. 



489- Northwestern Crow. Corvus caurinus. -«3»?— «... 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north ".^ 



in summer to Connecticut. 



Prom Virginia southward, this small Crow 

 (length 16 inches) is more abundant on the coast 

 than the common Crow which is often in company 

 with this species. Their food consists of grain, 

 berries, and animal matter. Their nesting habits 

 are like those of the common Crow and the eggs 

 are similar and have as great variations, but are 

 smaller. Size 1.45 x 1.05, 



312 



Bluish white 



