NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 267 



clove-brown, and profusely streaked with longitudinal lines of olive- 

 gray. They measure: 1.74x1.19, 1.77x1.21, 1.67x1.18, 1.76x1.18, 

 1.77 x i. 21. 



488. Corvus americanus AUD. [282.] 



American Crow. 



Hab. Eastern North America except Southern Florida and Arctic regions. 



An abundant bird in all the Eastern States, where it is well 

 known. The nest is built in woods, preferably in high, thick forest, 

 and the tree selected is one of thick foliage. In pine regions the cedar 

 is the favorite tree. The altitude is usually so great that the nest is 

 practically inaccessible. In quiet, solitary places, however, I have 

 found it placed not more than ten or fifteen feet from the ground. It 

 is built of twigs and sticks, sometimes of considerable size, firmly in- 

 terlaced, while weeds and grass, often with clods of earth attached, 

 form part of the structure. The lining is of leaves, grapevine bark 

 and fine grasses. 



The nesting season is in April and May, or June, and sometimes 

 even in March. From four to six, and occasionally seven eggs are 

 laid. These vary from a pale bluish to an olive-green, and from 

 almost unmarked specimens to those which appear of a uniform olive- 

 green, so dense and small are the markings. The typical egg, how- 

 ever, is of a light sea-green, thickly spotted and blotched with dark 

 brown, almost black, with purplish reflections ; these are chiefly about 

 the larger end. Size i.7ox 1.20. 



488#, Corvus americanus floridanus BAIRD. [2820.] 



Florida Crow. 



Hab. Southern Florida. 



A set of four eggs from Manatee county, Florida, taken April 15, 

 is in my cabinet, and measure 1.62x1.18, 1.62x1.19, 1.66x1.18, 

 1.62x1.16. Their color and markings are similar to those of typical 

 f C* americanus. 



* * Corvus americanus hesperis RIDGW. 



California Crow. 



Hab. Western United States, north to Washington Territory (Puget Sound), Idaho, Montana, etc., 

 south to Northern Mexico, east to Rocky Mountains. (Ridgw.) 



Prof. Ridgway states that this new sub-species is a very strongly 

 characterized race, which differs markedly in habits and notes from 

 the eastern bird.* Mr. Samuel C. Evans, writing from San Jose, Cali- 

 fornia, says it is very common in that region, nesting in the large trees 

 of the bottom lands. Eggs in my collection, from California, do not 

 differ from those of C. americanus. 



* For description see Manual of N. A. Birds, p. 



362. 



