THE CROW TRIBE 



1481 



thrives in a wide diversity of regions, ranging from Greenland to Spain and from 

 Portugal to Palestine, contriving constantly to adapt its habits to its immediate 

 environment. The raven is an early breeder, and the birds of the English fells 

 annually repair their nests while snowdrifts are lying in deep folds on the mountain 

 sides. It sometimes happens that a raven's nest becomes swamped by rain and 

 driving sleet to such a degree that the eggs are chilled and rendered useless. In the 

 event of such a contingency arising, the breeding ravens retire to some other favorite 

 haunt, in which the female lays a fresh complement of eggs. The latter are four or 

 five in number, rarely six; and are usually of a bluish-green color, blotched and 



WHITE-BEI.WED CROW. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



spotted with dark olive brown, although a reddish variety is occasionally obtained. 

 The raven performs valuable services as a scavenger, and the damage it does the 

 game preserver is infinitesimally small; but it must be confessed that shepherds have 

 only too good reason to complain of the injuries inflicted upon ewes when dropping 

 their lambs, for the raven readily attacks any defenseless animal such as a weak 

 lamb or a feeble fawn. 



In Africa the genus is represented by the black African rook 

 (C. capensis); the white-necked raven (C. albicollis}, which is 

 brown and black with a conspicuous black collar; the thick-billed raven 



African Crows 



