OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. \7:\ 



has also been procured by various parties. Kennicott found 

 it breeding in the territorv north west of the Yukon River, 

 as earlv as April 10 ; the nest being placed near the summit 

 of a large flourishing spruce in the midst of a thick forest. 

 In the vicinity of Great Slave Lake, it is very common ac- 

 cording to Ross, but grows more rare towards the north. 

 Throughout the Hudson Bay Territory, particularly in 

 wooded regions, it is very abundant, even frequenting its 

 shores in the summer, but retiring inward on the approach 

 of winter. Dall has observed completely fledged young 

 birds as early as June 18, on the Yukon River ; at Nulato, 

 he found it to be a not uncommon species. In August, 

 Salvin observed it in Guatemala, where it is probably resi- 

 dent ; in Texas, Kennedy met these birds in high trees, and 

 on precipitous din's, and in both the latter State and New 

 Mexico, wherever tall trees and deep canons abound, its hid- 

 ing places may be discovered. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, it is less abundant than in New 

 Jersey, and also considerably more so than the species last 

 described. In the vicinity of Germantown, it was in past 

 years more common than at present, but like many other 

 birds that have an abhorrence of man, they have deserted 

 our limits and retired to more congenial quarters, where 

 there is, for the present, temporary immunity from the in- 

 trusion and persecutions of man. Nor is this feeling of dis- 

 like wholly restricted to birds, but is more or less deeply 

 inrooted in the bosom of man. Many of its kindred are 

 permitted to roam at large, and even to build in close prox- 

 imity to man, without being molested ; while the hands of 

 everybody are raised to wreak instant vengeance upon the sub- 

 ject of our sketch, should it have the temerity to venture with- 

 in occupied grounds. This feeling of intense bitterness and 

 hatred is mainly due to the destructive propensities of the 

 species. The poultry-yards are not safe from its nocturnal 

 ravages. Instances are known, where, in the course of a few 

 nights, entire roosts have been completely decimated. Not 



