408 LAND BIRDS 
walking with comical dignity over the ground, chasing 
each other merrily through the air, tumbling, somersault- 
ing, and even trying to fly on their backs, according to 
Major Bendire. Their ordinary call is a loud “ craack- 
craack ” or a deep grunting “ koerr-koerr.” Occasionally 
during the early spring they attempt to sing in low 
gurgling notes a sort of monologue in monotone, as it 
were, but evidently expressive of their undying affection, 
and well understood by the mate for whose ears alone it 
is intended. 
488. AMERICAN CROW. — Corvus americanus. 
Famity: The Crows, Jays, Magpies, ete. 
Length: 17.00-21.00. 
Adults: Entire plumage glossy black, with purple lights. 
Geographical Distribution: North America, except extreme arctic re- 
gions. 
Breeding Range: In California, interior valleys, also coastwise locally. 
Breeding Season: February 20 to June 1. 
Nest: In trees, from 6 to 40 feet from the ground ; bulky ; composed of 
sticks and other coarse material ; lined with fibre, grass, leaves, or 
hair, the lining being well quilted together. 
Eggs: 4 to 8; olive-green, irregularly marked with spots and blotches of 
brown and gray and sometimes lavender. Size 1.65 X 1.15. 
Norru, south, east, or west, wherever found, the 
Crow is the same jolly black rascal. He may vary some- 
what in size; his plumage may be duller, as claimed, on 
the Pacific Coast; he may forsake the tall trees and 
build on the ground, as he is said to do in British Colum- 
“caw, caw,’ has the same 
bia; but his well-known 
derisive inflection, and rooks present the same weird 
combination of black forms silhouetted against the 
