8 TIIK WKSTKRN CKO\V%^ 



docs uiif|iic.sti(>iial)Iy breed here. A nest was rqx)rte(l to us on a cliff in tlie 

 Crab Creek Coulee. While we were unable to visit it in season, we did conie 

 upon a family gjoup si>nie weeks later, comprising tlie two adults and five 

 grown young. This is i)ossibly the northernmost breeding station <>f the 

 Mexican Raven yet rqxirted. 



No. .?. 

 WESTERN CROW. 



.\. L). U. .\'o. 4S8I). Corsiis br;uh> rh\ mhos hcspcris ( Ridgw.). 



Synonyms. — (.'.m.ii-ou.m.x Ckhw. L'ummo.n Ckow. .\.mi;i<ica.\ Ckow. 



Description. — Ijitirc plumage glossy black, for the most part with greenish 

 blue, sted-bluc. and purplish reflections; feathers of the neck n<jrmal, rounded. 

 Bill and feci black; iris brown. Length 10.00-20.00; wing 12.00 (302); tail 

 6.70 ( 170 ) ; bill 1.83 ( 4(1.5 ) : depth at nostril .65 ( 1O.5 ). Female averages smaller 

 than male. 



Recognition Marks. — Distinguishable from Northwest Crow by larger size 

 and clearer voice. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a neat liemis])here of sticks and twij^s carefully lined with 

 bark, roots and trash, and placed 10-60 feet high in trees, — willow, aspen, pine, 

 or br. /;</(/.?. 4-6, usually 5. same coloring as Raven's. Occasionally line -.lark- 

 ings prf>duce a uniform olive-green, or even olive-brown effect. .\v. size 1.66 

 .\ i.U ( 42.J \ 2<>.5). ^'i-aso)i: .April 15-May 15: one brood. 



General Range. — Western United States from Rocky Mts. to Pacific Coast, 

 save shores of northwestern Washington, north in the interior of British 

 Columbir.. south to .\rizona. 



Range in Washington. — Of general distribution alf>ng streams and in settled 

 portions of State, save along shores of I'uget Sound, the Stiaits, and the Pacific 

 north of (rr.iy's Harl)or. Xot fomid in the mountains nor the deeper forests, 

 and oidy locally on the sage-brush plains. 



Migrations. — Resiclcnt but gregarious and localized in winter. The winter 

 "roosts" break up late in Febrtiary. 



Authorities. — Corx'iis aiiicricoiius .\ud.. Baird, Re|>. Pric. R. R. Siir\-. TX. 

 i8s8. «,6f, (part). Brewster, B. N. O. C. \"1I. 227. T. C&S. D'. Kb. Ri. D-'. 

 Ss'. Ss--. Kk. T. B. K. 



Specimens. — P.X( ?). 



\\ IIILIC the Raven holds a secure ])lace in mythology and literature, it 

 is the Crow, rather, which is the object of common notice. No landscajx? is to<i 

 poor to boa.st this jetty adornment : and no morning chorus is com])lete without 

 the distant sul>-dominant of his [powerful voice, harsh and protesting tho it l»e. 



The dusky bird is a notorious mischief-maker, but he is not quite so black 

 as he has lieen jviinted. More than any other bird he has successfully matched 

 his wits against those of man. and his frequent easy victories and consequent 



