126 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



is smaller, measuring about sixteen inches, while the 

 common crow measures eighteen to twenty inches ; 

 but besides this, the general build of the fish-crow is 

 more slender, and the wing-movement varies to a 

 more gull-like manner, which is a peculiarity that 

 we readily detect when familiar with the bird. 



Florida, California, and the Northwest each have a 

 crow of their own, but they do not vary in appear- 

 ance or habits greatly from the typical form of the 

 East. In every country they are cunning birds, and 

 it is probable that no other form of bird-life has ad- 

 vanced so far as have these crows " intellectually." 



In the " higher coniferous forests of Western North 

 America, north to Putnam River, Alaska, south to 

 Arizona, east to (and including) Rocky Mountains," 

 is found a " crow" known as Clarke's Nut-cracker. 



Dr. Coues says of it, 



" It rarely descends below an altitude of 3000 feet, and has been 

 observed on peaks 10,000 feet high. A hardy bird, finding its food 

 at all seasons, Clarke's Crow is not a true migrant ; that is to say, it 

 does not move north and south at regular periods ; ... is an indis- 

 criminate feeder upon vegetable substances, giving preference, how- 

 ever, to the seeds of the pine, berries of the cedar, and acorns." 



The Bobolink, Reed-bird, Rice-bird, Ortolan, and 

 I know not what else, is a bird that is thoroughly 

 well known. Popular literature seems better fitted to 

 teach ornithology than the best efforts of scientific 

 naturalists. " Bobolink" has become a household 

 word, and the bird has been pictured until every 

 child carries it in his " reader" or knows it from the 

 dainty pages of juvenile books, now, happily, a feature 

 of every home. Bryant has made " bobolink" classic, 



