BIRDS— CORVIDAE — CORVDS AMERICANUS. 561 



deep, while 5186, from the upper Missouri, has it only .97 of an inch. The amount of gradua- 

 tion in the tail varies from 1.60 to 1.90 inches. 



A male bird, 5543, from Petaluma, California, compared with 5186, from Fort Eandall, has 

 a shorter wing, (one inch,) the first quill a little longer (equal to instead of a little shorter than 

 the eighth.) In 5185, from the upper Missouri, however, the first quill is nearly a quarter of an 

 inch longer than the eighth ; 6857, again, from Utah, has the first quill but little shorter than the 

 seventh. In 4563, from Jamacha Kanch, California, the first quill is equal to the seventh. In 

 fact, very few specimens exhibit precisely the same proportions of the quills. 



The southern specimens, upon the whole, appear smaller than northern, as will be seen by 

 the table of measurements. 



No. 6856, from Steilacoom, has a curious attachment to the chin in the form of a curved horn, 

 about an inch long, pendent from the middle of the chin between the rami of the maxilla, and 

 about If inches from its point. 



As a general thing the thickness of the bill varies considerably ; the stoutest before me is from 

 Fort Riley. Sometimes it is quite slender, especially in specimens from Oregon, where the 

 upper mandible is more decurved, and its inferior edge much more concave than usual. This 

 feature, however, is not seen in all, some being like the average of eastern specimens. I find 

 it impossible to detect any tangible difi"erence3 between the Pacific coast series and those from 

 the Missouri, though it should be remarked that no comparisons are made with any from the 

 Atlantic States, owing to the want of specimens, and that it is quite possible that the latter 

 may be entirely distinct. ^ 



In the next article I have separated a raven from Bill Williams' Fork of the Colorado of the 

 west on account of its longer wings and more graduated tail. I am not very decided in the 

 opinion that this is really distinct, and wait for further material to settle the question. , 



In the accompanying table of measurements of the three ravens here described are columns 

 numbered, successively, one to eight, and showing the progression of size of the different quills. 

 Where two are in the same column it indicates that they are about equal. Thus No. 5185 has 

 the third and fourth quills equal and longest, then, successively, come the fifth, second, sixth, 

 seventh, first, and eighth. The second is thus shorter than the fifth, but longer than the sixth ; 

 the first shorter than the seventh, but longer than the eighth. The measurements of tarsus 

 and middle toe cannot be regarded as very precise, the stiifness of the dried leg and the shortness 

 of the basal joint of the toe, with its large overlapping scales rendering it very difficult to say 

 where the tarsus ends and the toe begins. 



According to Prince Maximilian the only difference discernable to him between the European 

 and American ravens is in the more slender bill of the latter. He finds the size, proportions, 

 notes, and habits quite the same. 



I have not at hand specimens of the European raven for the purpose of making a critical 

 comparison with our own, but most recent authors agree in considering them distinct, although 

 Mr. Audubon maintained the contrary opinion. 



Bonaparte (though possibly with a Guatemala skin before him) states that in cacalotl the 

 first quill is shorter than the seventh, the second and sixth equal, the third shorter than the- 



'Since writing the preceding remarks I have had the opportunity of examining a skin of a raven from the coast of New 

 Jersey, belonging to Mr. Lawrence. This is not in high plumage, the feathers without much lustre, and the indications 

 generally are that it is a young bird just attaining maturity. Under tlie circumstances a fair comparison cannot readily be 

 made. The first primary appears to be longer in proportion to the others ; the primaries generally broader, and more acutely 

 pointed at the end. 



June 28, 1638. 



71 b 



