14 



TIIK NoRTIIWliS'l" rk< )W. 



"Tin.' sea-coast is alKindonfd when the l)ree(linjj time arrives early in 

 May, when they resi»rt in pairs to tlie interior ; selcctinj^ a i)atcli of o|)en prairie, 

 wliere tlicre are streams and lakes and where the wild crab ap|)le and wliite- 

 thorn },'rows. in whicli they Iniild nests precisely like that of the Mappie, arched 

 over the toj) w ith sticks. The bird enters by a h<»le on one side but leaves by 

 an exit hole in the opjiosite. The inside is plastered with nuid : a few grass 

 stalks strewn l(K.scly on the lx>ttom keej) the eggs from rolling. This is so 

 Miarke<l a difference to the Harking Crow's nesting ["Harking Crow" is J. K. 

 I..S solecism for the Western Crow. C. b. /it'.s'/>«'m ] , as in itself to Ije a sjwcitic 

 distinction. The eggs are lighter in blotching and much smaller. I e.xaminetl 

 great niiml)ers [ ! !] of nests at this ])rairie and on the Columbia, but invariably 

 found tliat the same habit of doming prevailed, .\ftcr nesting, they return 



with the _\<>ung to 

 the sea-coasts, and 

 remain in large 

 flocks often associ- 

 ated with Harking 

 Crows until nesting 

 time comes again." 

 — Xo single point of 

 which has l)een con- 

 firmed by succeed- 

 ing observers. 



Dr. Coo]>er wrote* 

 with exact truthful- 

 ness: "This fish- 

 crow frcfpients the 

 coast and inlets of 

 this Territory in 

 large numl)ers. and 

 Otherwise it 



Tatcn at Vr.i'i P.j 



rUK I'M.WloM CUw,, 



is nuich mure gregarious and familiar than the common Crow 

 much resembles that bird in habits, being very sagaci<^us, feeding on almost 

 everything animal and vegetable, and having nearly the same cries, differing 

 rather in tone than character. Its chief dei)endence for foo<l l)eing on the sea, 

 it is generally found along the l)each, devouring dead fish and other thing-; 

 brought up by the waves. It is also very fond of oysters, which it breaks bv 

 carrying them ui)war(l and dropping again i>n a mck or other hard material. 

 When the tide is full they resort to the fields or dwellings near the shore and 

 devour |)otatoes and other vegetables, offal, etc. They, like the gulls, |>erceive 

 the instant of change r>f the tide, and flocks will then start off together for a 

 favorite feeding ground. They are very troublesome to the Indians, stealing 



*. Rep. I'ac. R K. Survey. Vol. XII. Ilk II. ISrnatr 



