280 BACKBONED ANIMALS, 



May, and built by male and female upon the ground, 

 generally in communities, being a simple hollow in the 

 stubble, lined with horse-hair and grass. 



VALUE. Game, and as insect-eaters. 



The Crows (Corvidce) are birds of large size, and 

 possess powerful bills ; the voice is harsh and unmusical. 

 The blue jay (Cyanodtta cristata) is the best known of the 

 jays, and is widely distributed over America. The nest is 

 placed in trees, formed of twigs lined with grass and deli- 

 cate fibers, and contains four or five olive-brown, dark- 

 spotted eggs. They are migratory in the Northern States. 



NOTE. The Canada jay (P. Canadensis] is a guardian bird that 

 alights on the moose, hanging from its horns and fur in eager search for 

 parasites, an act of friendship the moose does not object to. Other 

 species in Europe perform the same office for the reindeer. 



The common crow (Cvrviis fnigivorus) is a familiar form, with a 

 purplish-violet plumage, attaining a length of twenty inches. They 

 are remarkably intelligent, and form vast rookeries, starting off each 

 day and flying for miles, returning at night. They build in trees, the 

 nest being composed of twigs and roots, and about two feet across. The 

 eggs, from three to six, are laid in April, and are bluish green with olive- 

 green or. dark streaks. The male feeds his mate during the period of 

 incubation, seeds or animal diet being equally to their taste. They 

 have been seen to drop clams from a height to break their shells, and 

 the rocks about Ocean Point, Maine, are covered with Echini (Fig. 

 35) killed in the same way. 



The raven is remarkable for its vocal powers, equaling the parrot. 

 The jackdaw, rook, and black-headed crow are other interesting allies. 



The Birds of Paradise (Paradise^} are allies of the 

 crows, and confined to New Guinea and the adjacent 

 country. In their elaboration of plumage they are the 

 most remarkable of all birds. One of the most superb 

 forms is the ruby bird of paradise (Paradisea rubra] that 

 is found on the Island of Waigiou. They fly in flocks, 

 uttering a hoarse and harsh Whack-whack-whack ! that 

 can be heard for a long distance, They breed in May in 

 the North, 



