ZOOLOGY. 211 



continues common to the Pacific coast. At Fort Steilacoym, in the summer of 1856, I obtained 

 several specimens. One, obtained in 1854, at the same place, had a singular (abnormal) horny 

 growth from the base of the lower mandible. S. 



CORVUS AMERICANUS, Aud. 



Common Crow. 



Corvus corone, WILSON, Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 79; pi. xxv, f. 3. Bo.v Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 37. IB. Syn. 1828,56. 



RICH. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 291. NCTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 209. Not Corvus carone of Linn. 



Corvus americanus, ACD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834,317 : V, 477; pi. 156 IB. Syn. 1839, 150. IB. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 

 87; pi. 225. BON. List, 1838. IB. Consp. 1850,385. NUTTALL, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 221. MAXIM. 

 Reise, I, 1839, 140 NEWBERRY, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 82. BAIRD, 

 Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 566. 



SP. CH. Fourth quill longest; second shorter than sixth; first shorter than ninth. Glossy black with violet reflections, even 

 on the belly. Length, 19 to 20 inches; wing, 13 to 13.50; tail about 8. Tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. 

 Hob North America to the Missouri region; also on the coast of California. (Not found on the High Central Plains?) 



The common crow is somewhat less abundant than in the cultivated districts of the eastern 

 States, and is generally to be found near settlements. I observed it in the open, uninhabited 

 regions east of the Cascade mountains. Near the coast it appears rarely, the fish-crow re 

 placing it. C. 



This species is occasionally met with in Washington Territory, but it is not abundant, being 

 replaced by the succeeding species. S. 



CORVUS CAURINUS, Baird. 



Northwestern Fish-Crow. 



Corvus caurinus, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. 1858, p. 569. 



SP. CH. Fourth quill longest; fifth and third about equal; second longer than sixth; first shorter than ninth. Color black, 

 glossed with purple. Tail nearly even. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Length 16 to 16.50 inches; extent 32 to 33; 

 wing about 11; tail about 7. 



Hob. Washington Territory and northwestern coast. 



This fish-crow frequents the coast and inlets of this Territory in large numbers, and is much 

 more gregarious and familiar than the common crow. Otherwise it much resembles that bird 

 in habits, being very sagacious, feeding on almost everything animal and vegetable, and having 

 nearly the same cries, differing rather in tone than character. Its chief dependence for food 

 being on the sea, it is generally found along the beach, devouring dead fish and other things 

 brought up by the waves. It is also very fond of oysters, which it breaks by carrying them 

 upward and dropping again on a rock or other hard material. When the tide is full they resort 

 to the fields or dwellings near the shore and devour potatoes and other vegetables, offal, &c. 

 They, like the gulls, perceive the &quot;instant of change of tide, and flocks will then start off 

 together for a favorite feeding ground. They are very troublesome to the Indians, stealing 

 their dried fish and other things, while, from superstitious feelings, the Indians never kill them, 

 but set a child to watch and drive them away. They build in trees near the shore in the same 

 way as the common crow, and the young are fledged in May. C. 



In Oregon and Washington Territories the fish-crow is very abundant, forming one of the 

 marked ornithological features of the country. The great abundance of fish, especially of 

 salmon, throughout both Territories afford an ample supply of food to the species. On Puget 



