COR V US CARN1VOUS. 153 



of the eye backwards and forwards very rapidly. At this time they .also uttered a croak 

 which resembled the alarm note of the Green Heron. I do not think that the males share 

 in the duties of incubation but they certainly care for the young when they appear. I 

 found the fully fledged nestlings flying at Lake llaruey by the first week in May, and Mr. 

 Naiunan writes me that they bring out two or even three broods in one season. I have 

 u the Boat-tailed Crackles as far north as Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, on the 

 twentieth of November, and at Siuithville on the twenty-second, but I did not meet with 

 them after this along the coast until we reached the St. John's River. This was during 

 the cold season of. 1876-77 when they would be much more likely to seek warmer quarters. 

 I do not think, however, that they remain above Florida during winter, but they migrate 

 northward in the spring as fa-r, at least, as Virginia. 



FAMILY XVII. CORVID^E. THE CROWS AND JAYS. 



Upper mandible, more or less curved and usually notched. Lawcr mandible, not swollen at base. Nostrils, almost al- 

 ways i-iin-rtil iril/i projfi-tini/ lirislles. Coracoids, shorter than top of keel which it moderately high, liut not exceeding in 

 hiii/lit one third the length of the coracoids. Marginal indentations not exceeding in depth the heiyht of the keel. Primaries, 

 ten. 



This Family is largely represented in the Old Word as well as in the New. There Is an apparent resemblance to some 

 members of the preceding Family, but the bristly feathers of the bill, ten primaries, and the peculiar form of the sternum 

 will serve to distinguish them. The coeca are very well developed, and the stomach is usually quite muscular. The fe- 

 male-, do not differ from the males, or at least in our native species. 



GENUS I. CORVUS. THE CROWS. 



(ins. Cu. Bill, stout, altout as long as the head. Upper mandible, curved. Wings, much longer than the tail which is 

 roundnl. .V< rnum, welt proportioned with the expanded, termination of thefuratla short. Marginal indentations, very 

 shallow. Size, large. 



The prevailing colors are black. The five pairs of laryngeal muscles of this genus are particularly distinct and will 

 to illustrate this character as given under Section I, Osctnes. (Sje plate VI. Nos., 1,3,3, and 4, of which explanations 

 are given at the end of this section.) 



CORVUS CARNIVOTJS. 



American Raven. 

 Corvus carnivous BARTRAM, Travels in E. Flu; 1793, 290. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cu. Form, robust. Size, large. Feet, stout. Tongue, somewhat fleshy, but thin and horny at tip, which is bi- 

 fid, and provided with a terminal cilia which extends along the sides, black in color. Sternum, stout. Feathers of neck 

 ami throat, lanre-^liapnl. 



OR. Adult male. Lustrous black throughout, with purplish reflections which are more noticeable on the back, 

 nd brrast. Hill and feet, black. 



Young nf the year. Quite similar to the adult but considerably duller. The bill is brownish and the soles of the feet, 

 lighter. 



Nestlings, Uniform dull brownish-block beneath. Head above, darker. The wings and tail arc lustrous with purplish 

 tion-s, as in the above for the feathers are not moulted. Bill and feet, brown. Sexes, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is little or no variation excepting in size, which depends greatly upon the locality. Winter birds are brighter in 

 color. Readily known by the superior size, and li>.m-c-sliapcd feathers on the neck. Distributed as a eoustnut resident 

 throughout Eastern North America north of Massachusetts and everywhere WWt of the MteMppi River. Rare in the 

 Alleglmny Mountains and on the coast of New Jcr 



HIIiDS 01 FU>KII>A. 20 



