( 193 ) 



Whole plumage black, except a 

 broad whifce collar around the neck, 

 and extending down on the breast. 

 Young birds have the neck gray. 



Distrihution. — All China. A com- 

 mon resident in the Yangtse Valley. 



Nest and Eggs. — With the exception 

 of the Magpie, this is the earliest 

 breeder in the Yangtse Valley. Build- 

 ing begins in February, and the eggs 

 are laid in March or April. The nest 

 is placed high up in tall trees, either 

 in the hills, or on the plains. Occasion- 

 ally an old Magpie's nest is repaired 

 and used. The nest is built of coarse 

 sticks, with a lining of grass, twigs, 

 or pine needles. 



There are three or four eggs, of 

 variable size, shape and color. They 

 are usually light green, blotched 

 and speckled with dark green, and 

 dull grayish red. The eggs of this 

 Crow may be distinguished from those 

 of the following one by the absence of 

 the bluish tinge in the ground color. 



Notes. — This crow is solitary in its 

 habits, never gathering in flocks as 

 many of the Family do. The male and 

 female may be seen feeding together, 

 but very rarely more than these two. 



THE BIG-BILLED CEOW 



CORVUS MACRORHYNCHUS 

 LEVAILLANTI, LESS. 



Description. — Length twenty one 

 inches. Bill very heavy, arched, and 

 black. Tarsus and iris black. 



Plumage black with purplish re- 

 flections all over. It may be dis- 

 tinguished from the only other large 

 black crow in the Yangtse Valley by 

 the larger size, and by the heavier 

 arched bill, fully feathered at the base, 



