NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



335 



A common species along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New 

 Jersey to Florida, and on the Gulf coast to Louisiana. It is called the Southeastern 

 Fish Crow. Mr. Charles S. Schick states that along the coast of Cape May county, 

 New Jersey, he has found sets of eggs of this species as early as April 13, and on 

 the 15th of the same month observed nests with young; the dates of laying varying 

 with the temperature of the season. The usual number of eggs deposited is five or 

 six, a set of seven being uncommon. In a section containing two hundred ever- 

 green trees, there were at least sixty nests, ranging in height from twenty to sixty 

 feet above the ground. The composition is nearly the same as in those of the Com- 

 mon Crow, except that the lining consists of a few dry leaves or fine bark-fibres. 

 The bird, Mr. Shick says, feeds largely on small crabs, and devours large numbers of 

 the eggs of the Clapper Rail. The eggs of the Fish Crow are so nearly like those 

 of the Crow in color and markings that one description will answer for both; those 

 of the present species are much smaller. Five specimens measure 1.50x1.08, 1.50x 

 1.05, 1.46x1.02, 1.51x1.06, 1.47x1.02. The average size of twelve eggs is 1.50x1.09. 



491. CLARKE'S NUTCRACKER. Nucifrayo columbianus (Wils.) Geog. 

 Dist. Western North America, north to Alaska, south to Arizona, east to and includ- 

 ing the Rocky Mountains. 



491. CLARKE'S NUTCRACKER (Cheney del.) 



Clarke's Crow, or Nutcracker, is found in considerable numbers in all suitable 

 localities in the coniferous forests of the higher mountain ranges within the limits 

 of the above habitat. It is the American representative of the European Nutcracker, 

 Nucifraga caryocatactes. A remarkable bird, embodying the peculiar habits of cer- 

 tain woodpeckers and those of some of the jays wild, restless and noisy, inquisitive 



