THE CROWS. 



Bird's Nest. 



English J;iv. 



FvaiOTi. 



Toucans, roosting 



i^b Trow. 



The genus Crow contains several species ; among them are reckoned 

 the Common Crow, the Raven, the Magpie, and Jay. 



The Raven, according to a classic fable, was once white ; but Apollo 

 compelled him to assume mourning as a punishment for being the 

 bearer of some unpleasant tidings. It is frequently domesticated, and 

 taught to utter words. It is described as possessing " many diverting 

 and mischievous qualities ; active, curious, sagacious, and impudent ; 

 by nature, a glutton ; by habit, a thief; in disposition, a miser ; and 

 in practice, a rogue." Ravens live to a great age; they feed on car- 

 rion and small birds ; build on high trees, or solitary eminences, and 

 are found in almost every part of the world. 



" The thievish Jay," is one of the most beautiful of British birds ; 

 its belly, breast, neck, and back, are purple tinged with gray ; and the 

 greater wing-coverts beautifully barred with black, blue, and white. 

 Jays feed on acorns, berries, and fruit ; but they do not restrict them- 

 selves entirely to a vegetable diet, as they will sometimes destroy 

 chickens, and even carry off birds that have been caught in traps, or 

 with bird-lime. The Jay is exceedingly restless and noisy. 



The Crow, like the Raven, which it greatly resembles, is a denizen 

 of nearly the whole world. It is a constant and troublesomely abund- 

 ant resident in most of the settled districts of North America, as well 

 as an inhabitant of the western wilds throughout the Rocky mountains, 

 to the banks of the Oregon and the shores of the Pacific. They only 

 retire into the forests in the breeding season, which takes places from 

 March to May. At this time they are dispersed through the woods 

 in pairs, and roost in the neighborhood of the spot which they have 

 selected for their nest; and the conjugal union, once formed, continues 

 for life. 



The Fish Crow is met with as far north as the coast of New Jersey 

 and is common on the banks of the Oregon. It keeps apart from thf 

 common species, and instead of assembling to roost among the reed 

 at night, retires, towards evening, from the shores which afford \i 

 subsistence, and perches in the neighboring woods. 



