Bi 111)8 OF Indiana. 881 



'186. (488). Corvus americanus Aud. 



Common Crow. 



Synonyms, Chow, American Ckow. 



Adult.- — Plumage, uniform black, with violet gloss; feathers on neck, 

 si I oil, rounded, not disconnected from others; bill and feet, black; 

 iris, brown; tail but slightly rounded. 



Length, 18.50-19.50; wing, 13.00-13.50; tail, 6.90-8.00; bill, 1.80- 

 2.05. 



Range. — North America, from Mexico north to Labrador, Hudson 

 Bay to Anderson River (lat. 68°) and Alaska. Breeds throughout its 

 range, except Florida. 



Nest, in trees; of sticks, weeds, grass, leaves, lined with grass, wool, 

 liair and other finer material. J^^ggs, 4-8; bluish-green, olive-green or 

 olivo-bufT; iiTeguIarly blotched and spotted with different shades of 

 brown and gray; 1.63 by 1.15. 



Very common throughout the State; resident, but not so common 

 in winter northward. They are partially gregarious, collecting in col- 

 onics, called "'roosts," in October and November and breaking up in 

 i\inrcli. During the day they i-ange widely fi'om these roosts, and at 

 iiighi rclurn lo iliciu. Sonu'liuies these "roosts" are maintaiiu'd for 

 years at Mic satnc place; agaiu, W^cy change I heir locajion ol'l-en. The 

 roosts \aiv much in size; sonu^ of (lu! hirgiM' oucs being eslimaJcd 

 (o coiihiiii 1(10,000 |,o ;JOO,000 crows. Tlu! foMowing roosis have been 

 rc|i(Hied from lndia.ua: (I) One iu Wayne ('ounty, cha.ng('d several 

 limes, locations given as 1^ to 10 mikss I'roin liichrnond; a roosi nvar 

 ISoslon, I hat county, may be one of the sites of the same birds (W. S. 

 iiallilT). (-3) In IJush County, in a soft maple swamp near Milroy, 

 has been Ihere "always." Most numerous in late summer, at "roast- 

 iug-ear" lime, when larmcrs have to light them to save their c(H'n; 

 sonieliuies found IIkmh; by th(; thousa.nds (Lon Innis). (3) 

 In 'ru)-ner's drove, near liloomingtou, (piitx; extensive (W. S. 

 I'dalchley). (I) One ]iear TeiTc Haute (W. S. Blatchley, J. T. Seovell). 



(5) One in Shelby County, between London and Brooktield, has been 

 there for the ])ast four winters (J. Q. Perry). There was one for 

 6 or 7 years near Fairland, in a grove of about 15 acres' extent. 

 Five or six years ago the boys disturbed them, and they left and lo- 

 cated 4 or 5 miles southwest of the old site (Willard Fields). As 1 

 understand it, this new site is the same one mentioned by Mr. Perry. 



(6) One near Trvington, several years ending with 1893 or 1894 (G. S. 



56 — Geol. 



