300 



OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Three Blue Jays were on July 27, 1890, observed chasing a Red-tailed Hawk in 

 regular Kingbird fashion, much to the evident discomfort of the Hawk, and appar- 

 ently to the equally great delight of the Jays. Notwithstanding its well attested pro- 

 pensity for annoying other birds, the Blue Jay is itself occasionally the injured party, 

 even at the hands of its inferiors, for it has been seen put to flight by the combined 

 efforts of a Baltimore Oriole and a Warbling Vireo. 



On September 26 and 27, 1890, several Blue Jays were observed feeding exten- 

 sively on the acorns of the laurel oak (^jiercus imbricaria}. The examination of 

 stomachs from individuals taken during the fall and winter months indicates that the 

 fo d of this species at these seasons consists largely of mast. 



SUBFAMILY CORVIN/E. CROWS. 

 GENUS CORVUS LINN^US. 



98. Corvus americanus AUD. 

 American Crow. 



An abundant summer resident, perhaps remaining also during mild winters. 

 Although it has been ascertained to sometimes pass even a severe winter in Summit 

 County, Ohio, 1 the writer has no positive knowledge of its presence throughout the 

 whole of this season within the region at present under consideration. One indivi- 

 dual was heard January i, 1892; and Mr. C. E. Bixler found one frozen to death in a 

 brush-heap, four miles north of Wooster, on January 4, 1887 ; these being the only 

 records for either December or January. The Crow appears in February, sometimes 

 as early as the second of the month, and disappears late in October or early in Novem- 

 ber; the latest date on which it has been observed being November 6, (1892). 



The breeding season begins often very early in April, probably sometimes in 

 March. Nests with eggs are not common after the middle of May. As to location, 

 a preference seems to be shown for the woods of the bottom-lands, where the nest is 

 frequently placed in a swamp maple (Acer rubrum}, ordinarily among the upper 

 branches. The eggs are generally five, sometimes in varying stages of incubation. 



The measurements of four nests are as follows : 



The female may usually without difficulty be induced to leave the nest, but occa- 

 sionally even the most vigorous rapping proves unavailing, in which case a stick 

 thrown and striking near the nest almost invariably has the desired effect. 



The Crow in this locality seems to have a particular animosity towards both the 

 Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, and may often be seen annoying them ; yet 

 notwithstanding this, it is exceptional, as has been previously stated, to find a domicile 

 of the Red-shouldered Hawk without the presence of a Crow's nest in the vicinity. 



1 Annual Report of Ohio Academy oi Sciences II, 1894, p. 12. 



