254 



Xoirni AMERKWX r.IIlDS. 



as the Hij^lit of the latter is swifter, they are frequently uii successful in these 

 attempts at r(>l»!jery. This Crow can catch living tish with considerable 

 dexterity, hut cannot feed while on the wing. 



DuriuLf the winter and early sia'iuLr, ^li"- Auduhon states that these hirds 

 feeil on Viuious kinds of herries, especially those of the Ilex ca^Hsiuu and of 

 the common linlly, and tliosc of the exotic tallow-tree, now so common near 

 Charleston {'<fi//iii(/i(f sH)ij\ni). In January and February these trees are 

 mucli resorted to Iky the Crows, who greedily devour their white and oily seeds. 



Mr. Audubon found these birds l)reediug geneniUy on moderate-sized trees 

 of the loblolly-] line, buihlini": their nests towards the extremities of the 

 branches, about twenty feet from tlie ground. The nests are smaller than 

 those <»f the Crow, and are built of sticks, lined with dry grasses and moss, 

 and neatlv tinislied with line fibrous roots. The eggs are live or six in num- 

 ber, and resemble those of the Crow, Init are snudler. 



Two eggs of this species, from St. Simon's Island, measure, one 1.50 

 in lenutii bv 1.10 in l>readth, the other l.~)2 by 1.09. Their ground-color is 

 a light blue witli a slight greenish tinge, marked over the entire egg with 

 small blotches of a light brown. An egg from ( Jreat Egg Harbor, obtained 

 by Wilson, from the old Peale Museum, and which may l)e a faded specimen, 

 has no tinge of blue or green, but a ground of ])inkish-gray, marked with 

 smaller blotches and cloudings of dai'k drab. It measures 1.40 inches in 

 length by one inch in breadth. 



Gexis PICICORVUS, Bonap. 



Picicorviis, BoxAPAivFE, Consp. Av. 1850. 3S4. (Type, Corvus cohanhMnm, Wils.) 



Gex. Char. LeaJen-Erray color, with black winjrs and tail. Bill loncror than the lioad, 



considerably lontjer than the tarsus, 

 attenuated, sliirhtly decurved ; tip 

 without notch. Cuhnen and eoin- 

 niissure curved ; gonvs strai^dit or 

 sliiihtly concave, as lonu: as the tarsi. 

 Nostrils circuhir, conij)letely covered 

 hy a lull tuft of incuniltent white 

 bristly feathers. Tail much shorter 

 than tlu' wiuirs. nearly even or 

 slightly rounded. Winirs pointed, 

 reaching" to the tij) of tail. Third, 

 fourth, and htth quills longest. Tarsi 

 short, scarcely longer than the mid- 

 dle toe, the hind toe and claw very 

 large, reaching nearly to the middle 

 of the middle claw, the lateral toe 

 little shorter. A row of small scales 

 on the middle of the sides of tarsus. 

 Color of the single species leaden-gray, with black wings and tail. 



