CROWS 331 



and bark, lined with fine bark and hair. It was situated in 

 a spruce tree some twenty feet up, and in size and general 

 appearance resembled a Crow's nest. The male bird was shot 

 as it left the nest. The eggs measure 2.03 x 1.30, 1.98 x 1.33 

 2.00 X 1.32. They are very similar to Crow's eggs but their 

 larger size is very manifest when placed side by side with them. 

 Three to six eggs are usually laid. These are pale pea green 

 to greenish drab or bluish, marked rather profusely with brown, 

 lavender and drab. 



The cry of the birds is a hoarse "auk" "cr-a-u-u-u-k" or 

 "butty-wau," A nest containing five nearly fledged young 

 was found on an island in Penobscot Bay, May 16, 1896, 

 and the birds flew about in cirlces high overhead uttering a 

 constant hoarse "cawing" similar to but still very different from 

 the well known distracted cry of the Crow. On this same 

 island a large colony of Night Herons were nesting but scarcely 

 any eggs remained in the nests, while underneath were dozens 

 with "bill holes" in them, showing the destruction wrought 

 by the Ravens. A later visit to the island revealed the fact 

 that the Herons had been forced to desert it for a safer locality. 

 Gulls and other seafowl are likewise robbed of their eggs 

 and small young. 



The Ravens have been accused (and probably justly) of kill- 

 ing newly born lambs. They readily eat carrion of any sort, 

 also starfish, clams, mussels, sea-urchins and similar material of 

 an animal nature. The same nest is often used year after year, 

 and while with us they usually nest in trees, they sometimes 

 nest on cliffs and in fact are said to usually do so further 

 north. I am not able to speak any good words for them as I 

 cannot discover any beneficial habit save that of scavenger, 

 while they certainly are a menace to other birds and sheep. 



488. Corvushrachyrhynchus C. L. Brehm. American Crow. 



Plumage : black with bluish or deep purple reflections ; neck feathers short 

 and rounded. Wing 12.00 ; culmen 1.90 ; tarsus 2.30. 



