54 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 



wing, is a soft, clear whistle, but when congregated in spring on the trees, according to their 

 usual custom previous to migrating north, they keep up a continual chattering for hours at a 

 time, as though revelling in an exuberance of spirits, ceasing occasionally only to recommence 

 with renewed vigor and delight. Some few pairs breed in the oaks on the sand hills around San 

 Francisco, though, while on entering the thickets where their nests were built, the parent birds 

 gave every sign of anxiety and alarm, I had not the good fortune to discover a single one, so 

 well were they concealed. 



STURNELLA NEGLECTA, A u d .Missouri Meadow Lark. 



Sturnella neglecta, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VII, p. 339, pi. 489. BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 537. 



Abundant, frequenting the prairie lands where, in the fall, they collect in large flocks. The 

 nest of this species, placed on the ground, is composed of fine grasses, and contains from four to 

 five eggs of a pure white, marked with deep reddish brown spots and blotches. 



CORVUS CORAX, Linn. Raven. 



Coma corax, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. IV, p. 78, pi. 224. IB. B. of A. Fol. pi. 101. WILS. Am. Orn. vol. IX, 



p. 113, pi. 75, fig. 3. RICH. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 290. 

 Corvus carnivorm, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 560. 



This bird appears to inhabit the whole of our northern continent, and was our almost constant 

 companion during the late surveys. Whenever we were about breaking up camp, even in the 

 most arid regions, it was to be seen sailing around and waiting our departure to alight and 

 snatch from the ground what few particles of food might have been left or thrown away. 

 Lagging at times behind oi:r train in pursuit of game, I have seen these birds follow our trail 

 for miles on the road to pick up the grains of corn which would fall through the cracks of the 

 wagons. In California I found its nest placed high on the bold, precipitous, rocky, cliffs, 

 secure against all danger ; but in the vast desolate plains of New Mexico it builds on low trees, 

 and I saw two nests on cactus plants, at less than three feet from the ground, showing how much 

 localities or circumstances will influence the habits of birds regarding incubation. It is very 

 familiar in the neighborhood of slaughter houses and ranches, where it is rarely disturbed, its 

 services as scavenger being considered an equivalent to the robbery it occasionally commits, 

 when hard pressed for food, of some hapless young chicken. 



CORVUS AMERICANOS, A u d .American Crow. 



Corvus americanus, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. IV, p. 87, pi. 225. 



Corvus cm-one, WILS. Am. Orn. vol. IV, p. 79, pi. 35, fig. 3. RICH. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 291. NTJTT. Orn 

 vol. I, p. 209. 



Abundant. 



PICA NUTTALLII, A ud . Nuttall s Yellow-billed Magpie. 



Pica nutlalli, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. IV, p. 104, pi. 228. BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 578. 

 Corvus nuUalli, AUD. B. of A. Fol. pi. 362, fig. 1. 



This bird appears to inhabit the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, being found 

 abundantly in California and Oregon, associating with the crows and ravens in the fall. Noisy 

 and restless, it flies from tree tD tree, calling its companions by a loud chattering note, and if 

 once alarmed is not apt to figure as a specimen in the naturalist s collection, as it possesses all 



