Zerega on the Northern Range of the Fish Croiu. 207 



a locality where Fish Crows were numerous, yet we never saw the 

 latter species visit the spot. So the case of the hen seems to be 

 purely exceptional ; and whether the Crow caught and pulled it 

 through the wires of his cage for the express purpose of eating it or 

 not I cannot tell. But I never found the stomachs of any of the 

 specimens examined to contain anything save food from the sea. 



Mr. Keeler states, and I have also observed the same thing, that 

 the Fish Crows fly from " the Highlands " to the shores and flats of 

 the South Shrewsbury River. This flight takes place shortly before 

 sunrise on clear mornings ; while, if the morning be dark or cloudy, 

 they do not begin to move until very much later. The evening 

 movement in the opposite direction takes place a little after sunset, 

 with about the same variations reversed. The height of the tide 

 makes no apparent difference as to their time of flight. They alight 

 on the shore, if the tide be high, and wait for the receding waters 

 to uncover their breakfast, although I have sometimes seen them 

 pick up dead fishes from the surface of the water. They are said by 

 the inhabitants of the neighborhood to roost in the heavily wooded 

 district of the hills ; of this I am almost certain, as that seems to 

 be the centre of flight of all the Crows. These semi-diurnal move- 

 ments from sleeping-place to feeding-ground, and vice versd, are not 

 restricted to Corims ossifragus, for I have noticed C. americanus to 

 be generally much the commoner during the flights ; but, if you 

 should ask almost any " small boy " or farmer of those parts, he 

 would be sure to tell you that the " Land Crows " roost in the 

 tall grass, bushes, or trees along the shore ; he also would give 

 you plenty of instances of their so doing. As to myself, I have 

 never been able to find any Crows near the shore long after sun- 

 down. These flights do not occur during summer, when Crows are 

 decidedly scarce. In the fall and winter one sees immense numbers 

 of Crows flying in the general course, but from May until Septem- 

 ber scarcely a dozen may be seen in a day. 



The Fish Crow doubtless breeds iu the vicinity of Seabright. - 

 This conclusion is drawn from the fact that the ovary of a female 

 shot March 17, 1880, contained several considerably enlarged ova. 

 Also a male bird taken April 13, 1879, and another killed April 26, 

 1880, make it extremely probable that it breeds in the neighbor- 

 hood of the Highlands of the Navesink. 



The specimens taken in the vicinity of Seabright arc interesting, 

 as representing the most northern residents of the species, and con- 

 sequently the maximum size. 



