68 



88. Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). 



BLUE JAY. 



AboTe, purplish-blue; beneath, ashy, "whitening on throat, belly and 

 under tail coverts; a black collar encloses the throat and the conspicuous 

 cre3t; wings and tail, rich blue marked with black and white. Length, 

 11-12 inches. 



Abundant resident. Raises 1 brood. Eggs 4-6, olive 

 green, thickly spotted witlia darker shade of the same. Nest 

 of twigs and roots, usually in pine trees. Eggs laid earl}' in 

 May. Feeds on eggs, young birds, insects, seeds, nuts, etc. 

 Beneficial ? Note, a harsh unmusical scream. 



89. Corvus corax principalis Ridgw. 

 RAVEN. 



Black, with steel-blue reflections. Length, about 24 inches. 



Very rare, accidental visitor. One instance. Northampton. 

 E. O. Damon. 



90. Corvus americanus Aud. 

 CROW. 



Black, with steel-blue or purplish reflections. Length, 19 inches. 



Abundant resident. Raises 1 brood. Eggs 4-6, greenish, 

 thickly spotted with dark olive ; more rarely pale bluish, with 

 reddish or light brown spots. Nest of sticks, leaves and 

 bark, in trees. Eggs laid early in May. Feeds on young 

 birds, eggs, grain, seeds and insects. Beneficial. Note, a 

 hoarse ^^caw." 



91. Dolichonyx oryzivorous (Linn.). 



BOBOLINK. 



Male in breeding plumage : Black; back, ashy-white; nape, buff. 

 Female, young and male in fall : Above, j'ellowish-brown streaked with 

 black; beneath, unstreaked brownish yellow. Length, 65-75 inches. 



Common summer resident. Earliest arrival, April 4 

 (Miss Morse) ; departs in September. Raises 2 broods. 



