THE WHITE-NECKED RAVEN. 405 



and partly obliterated by heavier and more regularly defined spots and blotches 

 of different shades of brown. In not a few sets these lighter and more subdued 

 shades are wanting, and are replaced by a more conspicuous brown; but almost 

 all of the eggs show the peculiar longitudinal streaks and hair lines so promi- 

 nently characteristic of the eggs of the genus Myiarclius, Besides the more reg- 

 ularly shaped markings common to the balance of the eggs of our Corvinm, they 

 are on an average also decidedly lighter colored, and a few eggs are almost 

 unspotted. Scarcely any two sets are exactly alike. The shell is strong" and 

 compact. In shape they are mostly ovate ; a few are elliptical and elongate ovate. 

 They vary considerably in size, and for so large a bird some of the eggs are 

 rather small. 



The average measurement of two hundred and eighty-eight eggs in the 

 United States National Museum collection is 44.20 by 30.22 millimetres, or 1.74 

 by 1.19 inches. The largest egg of the series measures 48.77 by 33.78 milli- 

 meti-es, or 1.92 by 1.33 inches; the smallest, 38.61 by 27.68 millimetres, or 1.52 

 by 1.09 inches. 



The type specimens. No. 23104 (PI. 4, Figs. 4 and 5), from a set of seven 

 eggs, taken June 4; No. 23124 (PI. 4, Fig. 6), from a set of four eggs, taken 

 June 18; and No. 23094 (PI. 4, Fig. 7), also from a set of seven eggs, taken June 

 17, 1887, were all collected by First Lieut. Harry C. Benson, Fourth Cavalry, 

 United States Army, near Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and represent some of the 

 different styles of markings found among the eggs of this species. 



162. Corvus americanus Audubon. 



AMERICAN CROW. 



Corvus americanus Audubon, Ornithological Biography, IT, 1834, 317. 

 (B 426, C 228, K 282, C 340, U 488.) 



Geogeaphical range: Continent of North America, eycepting extreme Arctic 

 regions and Florida in summer; south to northern Mexico. 



The American or Common Crow, one of the best-known birds of our avi- 

 fauna, is widely but somewhat irregularly distributed over a large portion of the 

 North American continent. While somewhat rare in the more northern parts of 

 its range, and possibly entirely absent in certain sections, notably so throughout 

 the greater portion of Labrador and the regions adjoining Hudson Bay, it is 

 nevertheless found in other localities at much higher latitudes, and is known to 

 breed even within the Arctic Circle. Mr. R. MacFarlane obtained two sets of its 

 eggs on the lower Anderson River, in about latitude 68° 35' N. One set of 

 five eggs was taken on May 5, 1866, and contained large embroys when found, 

 an unusually early breeding record for that region. 



In some of our Western States and Temtories it is also rare in certain sections, 

 especially so in southern Arizona, where the White-necked Raven replaces this 

 species to a great extent. HoweA^er, what it lacks in numbers in some localities is 



