CORVID.E — THE CROWS. 237 



It was never known to attempt to injure even the smallest of the young 

 dogs, nor did any of the dogs ever offer to annoy it. It at length came to 

 be considered by all as an inmate of the establishment. While it seemed to 

 have full confidence in the people of the fort, it kept at a careful distance 

 from all Indian or Esquimaux visitors. 



Mr. B. E. Ross speaks of Eavens as common as far north as the Arctic 

 Ocean. They feed on carrion, and act as scavengers to the establishments. 

 Their sight is remarkably keen, and the sagacity with which they follow the 

 trapper is wonderful. Early as the hunter may start, these liarpies wiU have 

 been before him, and torn out the eyes and entrails of each hare. They will 

 break into marten-traps for the sake of the bait or the captured animal, 

 thrusting aside or pulling out with their beaks the sticks that compose the 

 enclosure. Sometimes they are caught in steel traps that are set for foxes, 

 or eat the strychnine baits laid for the same animals, and slowly succumb to 

 this powerful poison. Their flesh is so rank that even a fox, unless sorely 

 pressed by hunger, will not eat it. They pair in April, and usually con- 

 struct their nests in the loftiest trees. They have various call-notes, one of 

 whicli is like that of the Canada Goose, and another is said by Mr. Eoss to 

 be very liquid and musical. 



Mr. Dall states that these birds were abundant all the year at Nulato, and 

 indeed everywhere throughout Alaska, but much more common near the 

 Indian villages and trading-posts than elsewhere. They build on the sand- 

 stone cliff's at Nulato, in cavities that have been occupied for years. They 

 lay about the 20th of April, and the young are hatched l^efore open water. 

 He also speaks of them as very intelligent, and states that on several ex- 

 peditions made to obtain their eggs, the instant he stopped at the foot of 

 the bluff the whole colony would arrange themselves on the edge of the 

 rock in anxious consultation, uttering repeated cries of warning. On one 

 occasion, where the nest was inaccessible and the party went back unsuc- 

 cessful, their departure was announced by significant and joyous croaks 

 and derisive screeches. Eavens were also found by Mr. Bannister com- 

 mon all the year on the small islands lying off the northeast j)oint of St. 

 Michaels. 



In the Eastern States the Eaven is a comparatively rare bird, except in a 

 few special localities. These are usually mountain-ranges, high precipitous 

 banks of rivers and lakes and of the ocean, and among wild and lonely 

 islands. It occurs on the Labrador coast, at Grand Menan in tlie Bay of 

 Fundy, the Adirondacks, Lake George, the Hudson Eiver, etc. Mr. Law- 

 rence speaks of it as quite common on the coast of Xew Jersey. It is 

 found among the mountains of Buncombe and other counties in North 

 Carolina, and Mr. Audubon mentions its occurrence ^t Table Mountain, in 

 the district of Pendleton, South Carolina. Dr. Coues found Eavens not rare 

 at Labrador, where the almost inaccessible cliffs afford them safe and con- 

 venient retreats. They were so excessively wary that it was found impossi- 



