280 



COMMON (MiOW. 

 Corvus americanus. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Rill. Ifgs and feet black: iris brown; plumage glossy black 

 with violet reflections, brightest on wing-coverts, tail and back; 

 top of head fre<iuently without metallic tint— young usually 

 dull black. The male is larger than the female, and measures 

 about nineteen inches In length and thirty-eight inches in ex- 



Rahitat. — Xorth America from the Fur countries to Mexico. 



The Ciow voadilT recognized bv its large size and 

 glossy blaik plumage is a common resident of Pennsyl- 

 vania during all montlis of the year. 



This species ranges fhrougliout diffeieut portions 

 of North America, but is found cJiiefly in the eastern 

 I'nited States. In this locality the Crow commences 

 nest-building in the latter part of April: both sexes 

 engage in this work which is completed in from three 

 lo tive days. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



Tile nest, a very bulky Structure, mesisuring about 

 twenty inches in diameter and ten inches in depth, is 

 made up of sticks, twigs, bark, leaves, etc. It is built 

 usually in an oak. chestnut or other tree in an unfre 

 quented woods; nests are sometimes placed in low 

 trees or bushes in codar thickets. The eggs vary 

 greatly in size and color; four to six in number; length 

 about l.tio by 1.1!) inclies in width; light-giveuish, 

 spotted brown and black with purplish tints. The 

 note of this well known biiii is a loud harsli caw. Dur- 

 ing the early spring, fall and winter months this spec- 

 ies is gregarious; rtinks numbering from tifly to sev- 

 eral hundred individuals are frequently observed scat- 



