(\)UVID.K — THE CUOW.^. 251 



gathered in lon<jf, continuous Hocks from the nciuliltorini; licLls, flying rutlici 

 hi«»h. All Jit once thev would <lescci.il, witli /.i's/AH: turns, to th«' l(»\v trees, 

 sportively chasini^ and iteckin^ at one another, and chatterin.ir in the air. 



Mr. dohn K. Lord, who enjoyed an unusually good opjtortunity of coniiiar- 

 ing the habits of our common Crow with those of this species, lias not the 

 slightest doubt as to their distinctness, though so very like in all essential 

 respects, as far as color, form of bill, and other details are concerned. The 

 smaller size of this l)ird, the diiVerence in voice, and tlieir habit i)i' building 

 with nmd a domed nest, suHiciently demonstrate their ditlerence. Tliis 

 Crow he found i)rinci])ally near liie sea-coast; retiring to the trees at high 

 tide, following out its el»b and retreating liefore its ilood, they feed on any 

 marine food they can tind. The caw of tliis sjn'cies reminded him of the 

 Jackdaws of Europe. During the breeding-.season tliey abandoned the coast, 

 from earlv May resortinu Ijv ])airs to the interior. Selecting itatches of open 

 prairie, they build their nests in the bushes of tlie crab-ap})le or wild thorn, 

 and something in the manner of the Magpie, arching over the top with 

 sticks, with two openings for entrance and e.\it on either side. The inside 

 is plastered with mud, and lined with a few loose grass-stalks. Tlie eggs he 

 found generally small, and of a lighter color than tlio.se of the common Crow. 

 After nesting', they return with their vouni:r to the sea-coast, and remain in 

 large Hocks. During tiie Ijreeding-.season they feed on small reptiles, fresh- 

 water mollusks, insects, grubs, etc. Mr. Lord noticed them cajtturing butter- 

 flies flying near their nests. Their eggs range in nund)er from five to seven. 



An egg of this species from Sitka measures 1.G2 inches in length by 1.12 

 in breadth. It is of an oblong-oval shape, ])ointed at one end. The ground- 

 color is a li'dit sea-'i:reen, with marks and blotches ol' olive-brown, of varvin' 

 size and different shades. 



Corvus ossifragus, Wilson. 



FISH CBOW. 



Con-US ossifroffiis, "Wilson, Am. (">rn. y, 1812, 27, 1>1. xxxvii, f. 2. — ^»n. Obs. "Wils. lS2r>, 

 No. 30. — In. Syn. 182S, 57. — In. t'onsiwctus. IS'.O, 3S'>. — ">. aci.ku, 8yst. Avium, 

 1827, Corvus, No. 12. — NrrrAi.i, Man. I, 1832, 216. — Ari>. v -n. IJiou. II, 1^34, 

 268; y, 479, pi. cxlvi. — In. Syn. Ife3it, l.",l. — In. Dinis A.n. ly, 1842, 94, pi. 

 ecxxvi. — liAinn, Birds N. Am. 185S, 571, pi. Ixvii, f. 2. — Samitis 363. — Allkx, 

 B. E. Fla. 297. 



Si'. CiiAU. Fourth quill loufrost ; second rather lontrcM- than seventh ; lirst !>;horter than 

 the ninth. Glossy hlack. with u'reen and violet reflections: the Ldiv<s of the helly 

 jrn'enish. Lenirtli. ahout 15.50; wintr, 10.50; tail, less than 7.00; tarsus shorter than 

 th«" ini<klle toe and claw. 



IlAn, Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to Florida. 



The Fish Crow of the Atlantic States is readily distinguishable from the 

 common Crow by the much smaller size (IG inches instead of lio ; wing, 



