238 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ble to shoot tlieni. They descendod in pairs to tlie sea-sliore to feed on 

 dead fisli, cml)S, and otlier animal substances thrown up by the sea. 



Mr. Kidgway informs me of the ])resence of this bird in the heavy forests 

 of the bottom-hmds in Southern Illinois. It is there (piite rare, however, 

 as lie lias met with but a few pairs. These were resident, and nested in the 

 tall timber of the Big Creek bottoms, in Hicldand Co. 



Auduljon's party found it equally impossible to obtain a specimen at Lab- 

 rador. One afternoon Mr. Audubon hid himself under a nest several hours, 

 to no purpose. Tlie old Ifavens would not show themselves while he was 

 within gunsliot, tliough the young clamored for food. As soon as he had 

 left the spot the female alighted on tlio nest, fed her young, and was off 

 again before slie could be approached. 



At Grand Menan, where they are not rare, and where they breed among 

 the high clifts, I found them so wild that it was almost impossible even to 

 obtain sight of them. Passing liigh in the air above our heads, their loud, 

 hoarse croak attested their alarm at the sight of their enemy, man. They 

 are looked upon with aversion liy the islanders, and are pereecuted by them 

 without mercy. Tiiey rob the nests of the Herring Gulls, interfering with 

 the islanders in tliis privilege, and are, wrongfully I believe, cliarged with 

 destroying young lambs. 



Years afterwards, when I again encountered individuals of this species at 

 Cheyenne, on the Plains, I could not but notice the immense difference in 

 their character. There perfect confidence in man took the ])lace of dread. 

 Unmolested by the people, Avho regard them as desira1)le scavengers, value- 

 less for food and useful in removing nuisances, they were as tame and famil- 

 iar as the European Sparrow in the parks of Xew York or Boston. On one 

 occasion 1 found one engaged in eating the remains of a dead cow just out- 

 side the city. It allowed me to a])proach to within five or si.v feet, when 

 with a very stately and dignified stride it moved out of my way, aiid kept 

 me at about this distance. I could not coni])el it to fiy to any distance, 

 even '*hen I hastened my steps. 



In . Trw England these birds are very rare, and their occurrence is only 

 accidental. One has been shot on the Connecticut, and another on the Mer- 

 rimack, in Massachusetts. They are not uufrequently met with in Northern 

 Xew York. 



On tlie Pacific Coast the Haven is common from Sitka to San Diego. 

 Throughout AVashington Territory it is said to be plentiful, more scattered 

 in the summer, and in the winter congregating about settlements and the 

 sea-shore. At Vancouver, during the winter, it was observed amicably as- 

 sociating with the Crows, and on the coast witli tlie Eish Crows, but during 

 the spring, when the latter liad nests, they boldly attacked the Havens, and 

 drove them away. 



In California and in all the adjacent regions, Dr. Cooper states, the Paven 

 is found everywhere in pairs, more numerous than in the Atlantic States, 



