210 ' ZOOLOGY. 



6p. Cn. — Bill sfout, quiscaline, the commissure scarcely sinuated ; sUorter than the head and tho hind too ; tho height 

 nearly half the lungtli above. Wing nearly an inch longer tlian tail ; the second quill longest ; the first about equal to the 

 third. Tail rounded and moderately graduated ; the lateral feathers about .35 of an inch shorter. General color of male 

 black, with lustrous green reflections everywhere e.Kcept on the head and neck, which are glossed with purplish violet. Female 

 much duller, of a light brownish anteriorly ; a very faint superciliary stripe. 



Male, 9| inches; extent, lUJ inches. Female, 9| inches; extent, Hf inches ; wing, 5.30; tail, 4.-t0. 



Hub. — High Central plains to the Pacific ; soutli to Mexico ; Pembina, Miun. 



In winter I obtained specimens of tho western grackle at Vancouver, and liave no doubt that 

 it is a constant resident at the Columbia river. I have never seen them at Puget Sound. In 

 notes and habits they arc scarcely distinguishable from the rusty grackle of the Atlantic States. 

 In winter they kept about the stables in flocks of fifty or more, and on warm days would fly 

 about more in the tree tops, where, with the redwing, they sang their harsh but pleasant chorus 

 for some hours. They are found throughout the Territory and east of the Rocky mountains. — C. 



Quite abundant at Fort Dalles ; rare Avest of the Cascade mountains. The species is a winter 

 resident at the Dalles, where in flocks it may frequently be found in cold weather in the vicinity 

 of barnyards and stables. The iris of the male bird is of a Bright yellow, that of the female 

 brown. — S. 



Family COHVIDAE, 



Sub-Family CORVINAE. Crows. 

 CORVUS CARNIVORUS, Bar tram. 



American Ravru. 



Corvus carnivoriis, Baktbam, Travels in E. Florida, 1793, 290. — Baibd, Gen. Kep. Birds, p. 560. 

 CoTvus corax, Wilson, Am. Cm. IX, 1825, 136; pi. Ixxv, f. 3.— Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 36.— Id. Syn. 1828, 56.— 

 DoncHTT, Cab. N. H. I, 1830, 270; pi. xxiv.— Ricn. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 290.— Nurr.tLi, Man. I, 

 1832, 202.— AuD. Cm. Biog. II, 1834, 476; pi. 101.— Id. Syn. 1839, 150.— Id. Birds Amer. IV, 1842. 

 78 ; pi. 224. 

 Corvus cacalotl, Newdehry, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 82. 

 Corvm bi(pibris, Agassiz, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. II, Dec. 1846, 188. 

 gp_ Cii — Fourth quill longest ; third and fifth quills about equal ; second between fifth and sixth ; first nearly equal to 

 the eighth. Length, about 24 to 25 inches ; extent, 50 to 51; wing, about 17; tail, 10. Tail moderately graduated ; the 

 outer about 1.60 to 1.90 of an inch less than the middle. Entirely glossy back, with violet reflections. 

 Eab. — Entire continent of North Ameiiea. Rare east of the Mississippi. 



The raven is very common in the mountainous western regions. During summer they are 

 less abundant, as they are then scattered through the forests and mountains, but in winter they 

 congregate about settlements and the sea-shore, where they can obtain a better supply of food. 

 On the barren arid plains east of the Cascade mountains they were very common, during our 

 journey there, while the common crow was rarely seen. At Vancouver, however, in winter, I 

 observed them amicably associating together, and along the coast with the more gregarious 

 fish-crows. Though they did not quarrel, the smaller crows would respectfully retire on the 

 approach of the raven to its food. But during spring, M'hen they had nests, the fish-crows 

 would boldly attack and drive them away, being quicker and lighter on tho wing than the 

 raven. Tlie onh' raven's nest I have seen was on a tree growing on a clift' about 50 feet high, 

 on the shores of the Straits of De Fuca. It contained young in April. — C. 



This bird I first found plentiful when, in going west, we reached the "great 1)end" of tlio 

 tipper Missouri. In the Rocky mountains and adjacent country it is very abundant, and 



