412 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



steal nesting material from each other whenever an opportunity occurs. The 

 old nests are resorted to for several seasons in succession where not molested. 

 Only one brood is raised in a season; if the first eggs are taken, they usually lay 

 a second set, but rarely in the same nest. When the young are nearly fledged, 

 they may often be seen sitting on the rim of the nest or on branches close by, 

 watching for the return of the parents with food, and keeping up an incessant 

 clamor. 



Crows' eggs are rather handsome, and vary greatly in shape, size, color, 

 and markings; the majority may be called ovate, but both short and rounded 

 ovates, and elliptical and elongated ovates are also found in good series. The 

 ground color varies from iiialachite and pale bluish green to olive green, and 

 occasionally to an olive buff. The markings usually consist of irregularl}- shaped 

 blotches and spots of different shades.of browns and grays. In some specimens 

 these are large, and irregularly distributed over the egg, usually predominating 

 about the larger end, leaving the ground color clearly visible. In others 

 again the markings are fine, profuse, and evenly distributed, giving the egg a 

 uniform dark olive-green color throughout. In an abnormal set of five eggs, 

 presented by Dr. A. K. Fisher to the United States National Museum collection, 

 four have a pinkish buff ground color, and are minutely speckled with fine 

 dots of ecru drab, resembling somewhat in general appearance a heavily marked 

 egg of the American Coot (Fulica americana) ; the fifth egg has a creamy white 

 ground color, and is spotted with different shades of light brown, drab, and 

 lavender. In another specimen, presented by Dr. Louis B. Bishop, the ground 

 color is salmon buff, and this is blotched with pinkish vinaceous. The entire 

 set of six eggs was similarly colored. Endless varieties may be found in a good 

 series of these eggs. The shell is finely grantilated, strong, and occasionally 

 rather lustrous. 



The average measurement of two hundred and ninety-two eggs in the 

 United States National Museum collection is 41.40 by 29.13 millimetres, or 

 about 1.63 by 1.15 inches. The largest egg of the series measures 46.74 by 

 30.78 millimetres, or 1.84 by 1.21 inches; the smallest, 36.07 by 25.91 milh- 

 metres, or 1.42 by 1.02 inches. 



Of the type specimens. No. 20297 (PL 4, Fig, 8), No. 20300 (PL 4, Fig. 9), 

 and No. 20303 (PL 4, Fig. 10), all from the Bendire collection, were taken by 

 the writer near Fort Lapwai, Idaho, on May 8, 1870, and April 26, and May 4, 

 1871; No. 20313 (PL 4, Fig. 11), also from the above collection, was taken near 

 Camp Harney, Oregon, on May 4, 1877; No. 24922 (PL 4, Fig. 12), from the 

 Ralph collection, was taken near Nicasio, California, on April 21, 1883; and No. 

 23275 (PL 5, Figs. 21 and 22), both from the same set, were obtained from Dr. A. 

 K. Fisher, and were collected near Lake George, New York, on May 14, 1883. 

 The specimens figured represent the different styles of coloration found among 

 the eggs of this species, as well as nearly the extremes in size. Plate 4, Figure 

 10, shows one of the commoner types of markings. 



