236 NOllTll AMEUICAX UUiDS. 



Iji^ Island, ^Ir. Clarke at Foit IJae, Mr. Lockhart at Fort Resolution, and 

 Mr. Dall at Niilato, in Alaska. 



IJicliardsun speaks oi' it as abounding in the fur countries, wliere it fre- 

 quents the barren grounds even in the intense winter coM, and where its 

 movements are regulateil by those of reindeer, musk-oxen, and otlier ani- 

 mals, which it follows, to assist in devouring whatever may be killed. 

 IJavens are seen to collect iiom various (puirters wherever any animal is 

 shiin, in order to feast on the oti'al, and considerable numbers are in constant 

 attendance upon tlie several tishing-stations. He mentions a singular 

 instance of the disposition of this bird to appropriate glittering objects of 

 no value to it for iood or anything else. A Haven was seen tlying off 

 with something in its claws, })ursued by a nund)er of its clamorous com- 

 panions. Having l)een tired at, it dropped the object of contention, which 

 proved to be the lock of a chest. 



Mr. MacFarlane's notes in regard to the nesting of these birds describe cer- 

 tain variations as to position, etc. One nest was on a ledge of a cliff of shale, 

 and was composed of dry willow sticks, lined with pieces of rabbit skin and 

 the hair of moo.se. IJotli parents were seen, — one on the nest, the other 

 on a tree, — but both flew away on being approached. A second nest was in 

 the top crotch of a tall pine on the river-bank. It was made of dry sticks, 

 and thickly lined with reindeer hair. There were eiiilit e^irs in tliis nest. 

 A third was in a tall ])ine, and was forty-five feet from the ground. Tt was 

 constructed in a manner precisely similar to the jneceding. A fourth was 

 on the top of a tall pine, and only differed in having been lined with dry 

 gras.s, moss, and a few reindeer hairs. The other nests a])})ear to nave been 

 similarly situated and constructeil. Xearly all wer«' i' bi\rh trees, built of 

 dry sticks, and lined with dry grasses, mosses, and tii. .1 of various quad- 

 rupeds. The maxinmm number of eggs was eight, their avemge six. 



Mr. MacFarlane states that the IJaven is fcjund tliroughout tlie winter in 

 the Arctic regions, and that, thougli he has met with it nortli of latitude 69°, 

 he has never known it to l>reed north of tliat line. He informs us that it is 

 seldom that more than a single })air is to be seen at a time, and occasionally 

 thev may be noted sinijlv, flvinir alone, or feeding on uarbaue. Sometimes 

 a dead fox or wolf will attract quite a number to the S]>ot. On one occasion 

 he ol)served as many as twenty liavens amicably associated together around 

 the carca.sses of two wolves that had been poisoned with strychnine. In 

 many cases he has known the partaking of a poisoned animal prove fatal 

 to them, as also the eating of bait laid for foxes and wolves. 



According to tliis same corres]K)ndent, one of these birds became almost 

 domesticated at Fort Anderson, during February and March, 186;"). At tirst it 

 fed about the fort with a com])anion ; soon after, coming alone, it grew bolder 

 and bolder, aliglited witliin tlie s<piare, aUowed itself to be closely approached, 

 wliere tlie young dogs soon became familiar with it, and w«mld even frolic 

 and gambol with it, the IJaven joining heartily in the s])ort in its own way. 



