206 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



489 Corvus ossifragus Wilson. 

 Fish Crow. 



Adults. Length, 15-17. Wing, 10.25-11.25. Everywhere black with bluish 

 reflections above, and a greenish gloss below, where the plumage does not be- 

 come duller as in the Common Crow ; the back is also more uniformly glossy, 

 and is not broken by duller tips to the feathers. 



Young in first summer. Duller ; body plumage, brownish-black. 



Nest usually in a pitch pine tree ; eggs, four to six, similar to those of the 

 American Crow, but rather smaller, 1.45 x 1.05. 



Resident along the coast and lower Delaware River. 



According to Zarega, 1 they occur regularly north to Seabright, and 

 less so to Sandy Hook. Mr. Babson states that they nest occasionally 

 at Princeton. 2 



While clearly distinct from the Common Crow when in the hand, 

 the Fish Crow is by no means so readily distinguished in life. Unless 

 they are seen together the difference in size is not very appreciable, 

 but the call is quite different, the "caw" of the Fish Crow being much 

 weaker, with a nasal quality, "as if the bird had a cold in the head." 



The Fish Crow occurs only along the seacoast and up the Delaware 

 River, breeding throughout its range, usually in colonies. Typical 

 nesting communities occur on the island beaches, which support a 

 growth of trees, and where the summer resorts and their visitors have 

 not frightened the birds away. 3 



Family STURNID-ffi. 



THE STARLINGS. 



493 Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus. 

 European Starling. 



Adult male. Length, 8.50. Wing, 5.10. Glossy black with purple and green 

 reflections, 'spotted above with white or buff ; bill, yellow, very sharp pointed. 

 Female. Spotted below as well as above. 



1 Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1880, p. 205. 



2 Birds of Princeton, p. 59. 



3 Cf. also for nesting on the N. J. coast ; Burns, Oologist, 1893, p. 310 ; 

 Crispin, Oologist, 1901, p. 106 ; Shick, Auk, 1890, p. 328. 



