280 



COMMON CROW. 



Corvus americanus. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill, legs and feet black; iris brown; plumage glossy black 

 with violet reflections, brightest on wing-coverts, tail and back; 

 top of head frequently without metallic tint — young usually 

 dull black. The male is larger than the female, and measures 

 about nineteen inches in length and thirtj'-eight inches in ex- 

 tent. 



Habitat. — North America from the Fur countries to Mexico. 



The Crow readily recognized by its large size and 

 glossy black plumage is a common resident of Pennsyl- 

 vania during all months of the year. 



This species ranges throughout different portions 

 of North America, but is found chiefly in the eastern 

 United States. In this locality the Crow commences 

 nest-building in the latter part of April; both sexes 

 engage in this work which is completed in from three 

 to five days. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



The nest, a very bulky structure, measuring about 

 twenty inches in diameter and ten inches in depth, is 

 made up of sticks, twigs, bark, leaves, etc. It is built 

 usually^ in an oak, chestnut or other tree in an unfre- 

 quented woods; nests are sometimes placed in low 

 trees or bushes in cedar thickets. The eggs vary 

 greatly in size and color; four to six in number; length 

 about ].()5 by 1.19 inches in widtli ; light-greenish, 

 spotted brown and black with purplish tints. The 

 note of this v/ell-known bird is a loud harsh caw. Dur- 

 ing the early spring, fall- and winter months tliis spec- 

 io.s is gregarious; flocks numbering fioin fifty to sev- 

 eral hniub'ed individuals are frequently observed scat- 



