96 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



reported a straggler and but two instances of its occurrence are given, November 

 21 and December 19, 1898 (Cameron, 1907, p. 393). On the Yellowstone and 

 Mussellshell rivers it is reported as seen almost daily but not common (Allen, 

 1874, p. 61). At Fort Custer it is reported as common (Mearns, 1904, p. 21). It 

 is reported common west of Carroll on the Upper Missouri (Grinnell, 1876, p. 

 647) ; not common at Fort Keogh (Thorne, 1895, p. 215) ; and as breeding at 

 Fort Custer (McChesne.y, 1879, p. 2388). It is common about Billings, nesting 

 on rim-rocks (Thomas, MS). These are all the records in the prairie region of 

 the state. In the mountains the only records in the southern part of the state 

 are from Park and Gallatin counties. Ravens wei-e observed about Electric Peak 

 in the northern end of Yellowstone Park, October 22, 1908, and in Tom iMinor 

 Basin and about Ramshorn Peak in the Gallatin Range, October 27 to 29, 190.S 

 (Saunders, 1911a, p. 39). In northwestern ilontana the species is fairly com- 

 mon, occurring regularly about Flathead Lake, and at Kalispell and Columbia 

 Falls. It is also common in Glacier National Park, and occurs less commonly in 

 the mountains of Teton County east of the divide. In Ravalli County it is re- 

 ported as a rare breeder in the mountains, occurring in the valley in winter 

 (Bailey, MS). 



There are no published records of the nesting of this species in tlie state, 

 though it undoubtedly does so. Two skins from Cohnniiia Falls, in the collection 

 of L. B. Bishop, are nearer to the race sinuatus than any other, tliougii they are 

 perhaps somewhat intermediate with pcnfcf'pa/w. 



189. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis Ridgway 



Western Crow 



A common summer resident thi'oughout most of the state, though reported 

 as not breeding in recent years in southeastern JMontana. Occurs in small nam- 

 liers in winter in the western half of the state. Breeds in the Transition zone, in 

 Cottonwood groves and willow thickets of the prairies and valleys, up to the foot- 

 hills of the mountains. 



The migrations take place in late March and October. In regions where the 

 birds winter regularly it is difficult to determine exact dates. At Lewistown it 

 was first observed April 7, 1900, and March 30, 1901, and in fall Crows were 

 seen until October 12, 1899 (Silloway, 1903a, p. 43). Other records are: Boze- 

 man, March 30, 1909, and October 18, 1908; Midvale (now Glacier Park), April 

 2, 1912 ; and Gregson, Silver Bow County, March 26, 1910. 



This species winters in small numbers in many places. In the Gallatin 

 Valley it winters regularly in the vicinity of certain slaughter houses where the 

 refuse furnishes food. I have seen it in winter near Helena. It is also reported 

 in winter at Fort Keogh (Thorne, 1895, p. 215), and in the Bilterroot Valley 

 (Bailey, MS), and rarelj' in Teton County (Saunders, 1914a, p. 135). 



This species nests in late April or May. There are few notes giving exact 

 dates, but I have found nests containing fresh eggs in the latter part of April, 

 and containing young in May and June. A nest with four young was found on 

 the Teton River, June 4, 1916 (DuBois, MS). Nesting is evidently sometimes 



