CORVID^E — THE CROWS. 239 



and abundant even in the most barren desert districts. It follows trains and 

 herds of cattle, and keeps on the lookout for anything befalling them. It is 

 omnivorous, eating snakes, lizards, eggs, carrion, and even grain, though the 

 last very rarely. It is accused of destroying young chickens and lambs. 



In Arizona Dr. Coues speaks of it as resident, and very abundant about 

 the cattle enclosures, where it congregates in immense numbers during the 

 autumn and winter. During the severe winter of 18G4-65 great numbers 

 perished of cold and hunger at Fort Wliipple. Dr. Coues has favored us 

 with the following interesting sketch of the habits of this bird as observed 

 by him in that Territory. 



" The geograpliical distribution of the Eaven seems to be in great meas- 

 ure complementary to that of the Crow. On the prairies, in the desert, 

 among the mountains, of the Western States and Territories, where the 

 Eavens and their congenial companions, the coyotes, abound, the Crows are 

 rare or wanting altogether. In travelling westward, I saw no Crows after 

 leaving the settlements this side of the Plains, while the Eavens were con- 

 spicuous, until in some parts of Southern California Crows reappeared, but 

 no Eavens amongst them. I saw a fair number of Eavens along the Arkan- 

 sas Eiver, and they were frequent in the valley of the Eio Grande ; after 

 crossing the river, while traversing the wild region thence to the Colorado, 

 they were our inseparable companions ; hundreds, if not thousands, of them 

 lived about Fort Whipple all the year, seemingly attracted from miles 

 around by probabilities of finding abundant food. Throughout the Western 

 wilds they hang on the footsteps of man, needy adventurers, claiming their 

 share of his spoils, disputing with the wolves and vultures for the refuse of 

 his camp, and polishing the skeletons of the buffalo, with which he some- 

 times strews the plain. The more desolate the land, the closer the Eaven 

 follows in the trail of the emigrant, till its dismal croaking sounds ominous 

 of hardship, and its plumage seems to foreshadow days as dark. 



" One accustomed to the shrewdness and prudence of Crows in populous 

 districts is at first surprised at an apparent familiarity the Eaven often 

 shows in the West. There no one would think of wasting ammunition on 

 the worthless bird, and it comes to look upon man more as its provider than 

 as an enemy. Nevertheless, like the rest of its tribe, the Eaven is a saga- 

 cious bird, not likely to be twice deceived, and very ready to take a hint ; 

 he always has his wits about him, and keeps a bright lookout when anything 

 stranger than a coyote is near. This wariness is something altogether dif- 

 ferent from the childlike timidity of little birds like Sparrows, that scurry 

 away in terror from any unusual sight or sound, and unquestionably implies 

 keen powers of observation coupled with no small degree of reasoning 

 faculty. Almost every day during the winter of 1864-65 I must have 

 passed within a few paces of Eavens stalking about the fort ; and yet, when 

 I wanted a specimen, it was not an easy matter to secure one. The birds 

 assuredly knew the difference between a person going quietly about his busi- 



