CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 251 



gathered in long, continuous flocks from the neighboring fields, flying rather 

 high. All at once they would descend, with zigzag turns, to the low trees, 

 sportively chasing and pecking at one another, and chattering in the air. 



Mr. John K. Lord, who enjoyed an unusually good opportunity of compar- 

 ing the habits of our common Crow with those of this species, has not the 

 slightest doubt as to their distinctness, though so very like in all essential 

 respects, as far as color, form of bill, and other details are concerned. The 

 smaller size of this bird, the difference in voice, and their habit of buildinfr 

 with mud a domed nest, sufficiently demonstrate their difference. This 

 Crow he found principally near the sea-coast ; retiring to the trees at high 

 tide, following out its ebb and retreating before its flood, they feed on any 

 marine food they can find. The caw of this species reminded him of the 

 Jackdaws of Europe. During the breeding-season they abandoned tlie coast, 

 from early May resorting by pairs to the interior. Selecting patches of open 

 prairie, they build their nests in the bushes of the crab-apple or wild thorn, 

 and something in the manner of the Magpie, arching over the top with 

 sticks, with two openings for entrance and exit on either side. The inside 

 is plastered with mud, and lined with a few loose grass-stalks. The eggs he 

 found generally small, and of a lighter color than those of the common Crow. 

 After nesting, they return with their young to the sea-coast, and remain in 

 large flocks. During the breeding-season they feed on small reptiles, fresh- 

 water mollusks, insects, grubs, etc. Mr. Lord noticed them capturing butter- 

 flies flying near their nests. Their eggs range in number from five to seven. 



An egg of this species from Sitka measures 1.62 inches in length by 1.12 

 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, pointed at one end. The ground- 

 color is a light sea-green, with marks and blotches of olive-brown, of varying 

 size and different shades. 



Corvus ossifragus, Wilson. 



FISH CROW. 



Corvus ossifragus, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 27, pi. xxxvii, f. 2. — Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, 

 No. 39. — Ib. Syn. 1828, 57. —Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 385. — Wagler, Syst. Avium, 

 1827, Corvus, No. 12. — Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 216. — AtiD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 

 268; V, 479, pi. cxlvi. — Ib. Syn. 1839, 151. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 94, pi. 

 ccxxvi. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 571, pi. Ixvii, f. 2. — Samuels, 363. — Allen, 

 B. E. Fla. 297. 



Sp. Char. Fourth quill longest ; second rather longer than seventh ; first shorter than 

 the ninth. Glossy black, with green and violet reflections ; the gloss of the belly 

 greenish. Length, about 15.50 ; wing, 10.50 ; tail, less than 7.00 ; tarsus shorter than 

 the middle toe and claw. 



Hab. Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to Florida. 



The Fish Crow of the Atlantic States is readily distinguishable from the 

 common Crow by the much smaller size (16 inches instead of 20 ; wing. 



