THE CLARK NUTCRACKER. 



19 



Clark's Xutcrackcr is llie presiding genius uf the East-side slopes and 

 light-forested foothills, as well as nf the rugged fastnesses nf the central 

 Cordilleras. His presence, during fall and winter, at the lower altitudes 

 depends in large measure upnn the pine-cone crop, since pine seeds are his 

 stagle. tho hv no means his exclusive diet. This black and white and gray 



CT..\RK'S NUTCRACKER. 



"Crow" curiously comhines the characteristics of Woodpecker and Jay as 

 well. Like the Lewis \\'oodpecker, he sometimes hawks at passing insects, 

 ea's berries from Inishes, or alights on the ground to glean grubs, grass- 

 hoppers, and black crickets. Tn the mountains it shares with the Jays of the 

 Perisorcus group the names "meat-bird" and "cami>robl;)er." for nothing 

 that is edible comes amiss to this bird, anrl instances are on record of its 

 having invadcfl \vA nnlv the open-air kitchen, but the tent, as well, in search 

 cf "supplies." 



Of its favorite ffX)d, John Keast Lord says : "Clark's 'Crows' have, 

 like the Crf)ss-bills, to get out the seeds from underneath the scaly coverings 

 constituting the outw;ird side of the fir-cone: nature has not given them 



