American Crow 771 



which, aside from the curiously modified plumage, differ chiefly in the abnormal 

 character of the feet. A number of the Jays resemble certain of the Titmice 

 (Panda), with which they are doubtless quite closely related. Some systema- 

 tists place the group at the head of the avian line, but, all things considered, it 

 seems likely that this position should be awarded the Finches and their kin. 

 The Corvida are active, energetic birds, possessing a high degree of intelligence, 

 and, as will be recounted later, some of them are able to articulate with dis- 

 tinctness words and short sentences. Ordinarily they are shy, suspicious, and 

 difficult of approach, though there are some notable exceptions, such as the 

 Canada Jay, which comes fearlessly and inquisitively about camps, and the 

 Hooded Crow of India in which centuries of protection has inculcated unusual 

 confidence in the human race. They frequent mostly wooded, often heavily 

 timbered regions, and are strictly omnivorous feeders, taking insects, small 

 reptiles, eggs, and nestlings as well as grain, seeds, fruits, and berries, and by 

 choice or force of circumstances a number will feed on carrion. 



The Corvidce is a large group, comprising upward of two hundred species, 

 and while it is most strongly developed in the Northern Hemisphere, it is so nearly 

 cosmopolitan that only New Zealand and a restricted portion of Polynesia are 

 without representatives. North America possesses a fair number of forms, 

 while South America is but poorly supplied, being entirely without representa- 

 tives of the Crows and Ravens (Corvina), though possessing a few Jays (Gar- 

 rulina), which range as far south as approximately the limits of the temperate 

 districts. The family is by some divided into three subfamilies, though the 

 limits are not always sharply definable, nor is the grade of each entirely without 

 question. Beginning with the typical subfamily (Corvince), in which the wings 

 are long and pointed and exceeding the tail in length, we may first consider the 

 great genus Corvus, which, as here accepted, is almost world-wide in distribu- 

 tion. The common American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos\ which in several slight 

 geographic races spreads throughout practically the whole of the North American 

 continent, though somewhat locally in the west, is the best known of the New 

 World species, being altogether too familiar to need extensive description. 

 Ordinarily the Crow is exceedingly shy and difficult of approach, having appar- 

 ently recognized long ago that the hand of man is against him, though in places 

 such as large city parks where not molested he often permits one to come much 

 closer than in the open country. When feeding in company, which he usually 

 does, there are generally several individuals in commanding positions which give 

 warning of the approach of danger, when with loud cawing all fly to a place of 

 safety. During the summer when they are rearing their young they are scat- 

 tered usually in pairs over this vast territory, but soon small, evidently family 

 parties are seen, and in the fall they congregate, often in countless thousands, 

 and resort to some chosen woodland for roosting purposes. Thus of a famous 

 Crows' roost near Baxter, Iowa, Mr. Preston writes as follows: "During the 

 winter of 1891-1892 the number was estimated at forty thousand birds. About 

 sunset they came in small flocks and straggling companies from long distances 

 away, gathering in large fields or meadows, so thick as to look like plowed land. 



