156 COMMON CROW. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is little or no variation in birds of the same age from the same locality, Imt Florida specimens are smaller witli 

 large bills and feet. Readily distinguished from the closely allied ossifrayvs by the large size of the feet and the shorter 

 middle toe. Distributed in summer throughout North America, retreating into the United States in winter. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements often specimens from New England. Length, 19-50; stretch, 27'50; wing, 12-30; tail, fi -!fcj; 

 bill, 2-25; tarsus, 2'30. Longest specimen, 21-00; greatest extent of wing, 38'00; longest wing, 12'GO; tail, 7'50; bill, 2'50; 

 tarsus, 2-20. Shortest specimen, 18-00; smallest extent of wing, 36'00; shortest wing, 12'00; tail, 6-25; bill, 2-00; tar- 

 sus, 2-00. 



Average measurements of six specimens from Florida. Length, 18-22; stretch, 35-40; wing, 21-65; tail, 7'25; bill, 

 2-30; tarsus, 2-29. Longest specimen, 19-45; greatest extent of wing, 37-90; longest wing, 12-50; tail, 8-00; bill, 2-60; 

 tarsus, 2-58. Shortest specimen, 17-00; smallest extent of wing, 33'00; shortest wing, 10'80; tail, 6'50; bill, 2'00; tarsus, 

 2-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees. They are large structures composed of sticks, lined with grass, weeds, hair, etc. Dimensions; 

 external diameter, 18-00, internal, lO'OO. External depth, 10-00, internal, 4'00. 



Eyys, from three to five in number, oval in form, varying from pale to dark-green in color, spotted and^ blotched with 

 yellowish and grayish-brown. Dimension* from l'55x I'lO to 2'OOx T30. 



HABITS. 



Among the first birds that I remember noticing were the Crows. I must have been 

 very young, yet the earliest impression that I received regarding them was their extreme 

 shyness, and the members of this species which I have met in the North have ever taken 

 the greatest pains to confirm this idea. Sagacity is certainly one of the prime character- 

 istics of the Crow and sagaciousnss has taught them that all members of the human family, 

 of whatever age, sex, or color, are their mortal enemies. Any one in our section who has 

 endeavored to shoot them will bear testimony to this and, furthermore, many affirm that 

 the birds are accurate mathematicians, being enabled to calculate to an inch the distance 

 a gun will send shot, and thus tantalizingly keep just out of range. Although I cannot 

 exactly confirm this statement, I do know that the birds very quickly learn where they 

 are safe and where they must be cautious. For example, there is an estate not far from 

 my place where no one ever shoots, as the owner has banished all guns from his land. 

 Birds of many species build there and among them are two or three pairs of Crows. These 

 wary birds are as unsuspicious as Robins when at home and I have frequently walked 

 within twenty yards of them, but they are as shy as any of their comrades whenever 

 they visit neighboring farms. 



I found them very tame in Florida, where they are always abundant, excepting in 

 the immediate vicinity of settlements, and at first it appeared quite odd to see Crows 

 alight within a dozen yards of me without the slightest indication of fear. These birds in 

 Massachusetts have a peculiar way of jetting the tail and of keeping the head erect as if 

 constantly on the lookout for danger, but the southern race is much more indolent, for I 

 never remember observing this habit. They simply gazed at me quietly and then, if I ap- 

 proached too near, would give a caw or two and fly to the next tree. They are mainly 

 found in the piney woods, seldom visiting the prairies or hummocks, and they are also rare 

 on the plantations where I never knew of their being in the least troublesome. 





