236 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Big Island, Mr. Clarke at Fort Eae, Mr. Lockhart at Fort Eesolution, and 

 Mr. Dall at Nulato, in Alaska. 



Eichardson speaks of it as abounding in the fur countries, where it fre- 

 quents the barren grounds even in the intense winter cold, and where its 

 movements are regulated by those of reindeer, musk-oxen, and other ani- 

 mals, which it follows, to assist in devouring whatever may be killed. 

 Eavens are seen to collect from various quarters wherever any animal is 

 slain, in order to feast on the offal, and considerable numbers are in constant 

 attendance upon the several iishing-stations. He mentions a singular 

 instance of the disposition of this bird to appropriate glittering objects of 

 no value to it for food or anything else. A Eaven was seen flying off 

 with something in its claws, pursued by a number of its clamorous com- 

 panions. Having been fired at, it dropped the object of contention, which 

 proved to be the lock of a chest. 



Mr. MacFarlane's notes in regard to the nesting of these birds describe cer- 

 tain variations as to position, etc. One nest was on a ledge of a cliff of shale, 

 and was composed of dry willow sticks, lined with pieces of rabbit skin and 

 the hair of moose. Both parents were seen, — one on the nest, the other 

 on a tree, — but both flew away on being approached. A second nest was in 

 the top crotch of a tall pine on the river-bank. It was made of dry sticks, 

 and thickly lined with reindeer hair. There were eight eggs in this nest. 

 A third was in a tall pine, and was forty-five feet from the ground. It was 

 constructed in a manner precisely similar to the preceding. A fourth was 

 on the top of a tall pine, and only differed in having been lined with dry 

 grass, moss, and a few reindeer hairs. The other nests appear to have been 

 similarly situated and constructed. Nearly all were in high trees, built of 

 dry sticks, and lined with dry grasses, mosses, and the hair of various quad- 

 rupeds. The maximum number of eggs was eight, their average six. 



Mr. MacFarlane states that the Eaven is found throughout the winter in 

 the Arctic regions, and that, though he has met with it north of latitude 69°, 

 he has never known it to breed north of that line. He informs us that it is 

 seldom that more than a single pair is to be seen at a time, and occasionally 

 they may be noted singly, flying alone, or feeding on garbage. Sometimes 

 a dead fox or wolf will attract quite a number to the spot. On one occasion 

 he observed as many as twenty Eavens amicably associated together around 

 the carcasses of two wolves that had been poisoned with strychnine. In 

 many cases he has known the partaking of a poisoned animal prove fatal 

 to them, as also the eating of bait laid for foxes and wolves. 



According to this same correspondent, one of these birds became almost 

 domesticated at Fort Anderson, during February and March, 1865. At first it 

 fed about the fort with a companion ; soon after, coming alone, it grew bolder 

 and bolder, alighted within the square, allowed itself to be closely approached, 

 where the young dogs soon became familiar with it, and would even frolic 

 and gambol with it, the Eaven joining heartily in the sport in its own way. 



