CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 253 



Jersey, and in the regions bordering on the Schuylkill and the Delaware, near 

 Philadelphia, during the shad and herring fishing, or from March till June. 



During the breeding-season they were observed to separate into pairs, and 

 to build their nests in tall trees near the sea or the river shore. One of their 

 nests was in a tall wood at Great Egg Harbor, and they were presumed to 

 have four or five young at a time. 



In the District of Columbia, Dr. Coues found the Fish Crow to be an 

 abundant resident throughout the year, less wary and suspicious tlian the 

 common Crow, and more confined to the borders of rivers. It was generally 

 confounded with C. americanus. 



The Fish Crow appears to have received, even if it does not merit, an 

 exemption from the general unpopularity of its race. It is generally believed 

 to be at least a harmless species, and in its destruction of reptiles and ver- 

 min to be even beneficial. This belief, we apprehend, is for the most part 

 well founded. Yet Mr. Audubon accuses these Crows of entering gardens 

 and feeding upon the best fruits. He also states tliat, near Charleston, they 

 commit such depredations upon the ripe figs, and become so trouljlesome 

 generally in the gardens, that it is often found necessary to station a man 

 near the fig-trees to shoot and destroy them. 



The Fish Crow is confined either to the maritime districts or to the banks 

 of rivers branching from them. Audubon states that tliey ascend the Dela- 

 ware to quite a distance, .and that some breed in New Jersey every year, but 

 that all retire to the South on the approach of cold weather. Some go up 

 the Mississippi to the distance of five hundred miles, but return to the sea- 

 shore in the winter. In East Florida, where they were very abundant, Mr. 

 Audubon found them breeding in February, in South Carolina on the 20th 

 of March, and in New Jersey a month later. On the St. John's River, dur- 

 ing February, he saw them in flocks of several hundred, but all seemed 

 mated and to move in pairs, sailing high in the air in the manner of Eavens. 

 After these aerial excursions the whole body descended to the water's edge to 

 feed. Wlien their fishing was over, they would alight in flocks on the live- 

 oaks near the shore, and there keep up their gabbling, while they plumed 

 themselves, for hours. They then returned to their fishing-grounds, where they 

 remained until near sunset, moving into the interior to great distances, to roost 

 on the loblolly-pines. These retreats were made in silence, but their return 

 to the sea-shore in the early morning was made with noisy and lively demon- 

 strations. They were then to be seen among the bays, rivers, salt ponds, and 

 marshes, searching for small fry, and picking up any garbage they might find. 



Mr. Audubon also accuses them of robbing other birds of their eggs and 

 young. This was especially observed on the Florida Keys, where they even 

 dared to plunder the nests of the Cormorants and White Ibis. They feed 

 largely on'the small crabs called fiddlers, which they pursue and easily cap- 

 ture in their burrows. He has also seen them attack and pursue small Gulls 

 and Terns, and attempt to make them disgorge the fish they have caught ; but 



