their Summer habits and those of Winter is that, when breeding, the individuals remain con- 

 stant to one locality ; but after the nesting season is done, they roam about, their movements 

 being governed by the distribution of favorable feeding grounds rather than by an instinct 

 of migration. 



PLATE XVIII. AMERICAN CROW. CROW. 



Corvus americanus. /Vt<.ObJ(Ji&(i . 



No description is needed to identify this well-known bird. The 

 following is DeKay's, and is sufficiently explicit: "Black and glossy, 

 with violet reflections. Tail slightly rounded, extending but little be- 

 yond the wings. Tail feathers somewhat acute." Length, 19. 30 inches. 



Resident. Most of the year gregarious ; but late in May, it pairs* and breeds. The 

 nest is roughly made of sticks, leaves and grass. 



Its hoarse caw is a familiar sound, and, with few varying inflections, is its only utter- 

 ance. A walker. 



HORNED LARK. 



Otocoris alpestris. 



Above lilac-brown, the feathers edged with a lighter tinge, and the 

 brown on shoulders and rump redder than elsewhere ; forehead, chin, 



93 



