55 



IOWA OKNITHOLOGIST. 



for the species and rather rough 

 in construction. It contained 

 three nearly fresh eggs. 



Akogether, some ten nests with 

 sets were examined and in all, a 

 marked similarity existed, both 

 in situation and construction. 

 Sizes of nests varied to some ex- 

 tent, but were mainly as follows: 

 Diameter outside, 2i-3 inches; 

 inside, 2-2]^ inches. Depth out- 

 side, 2-2-^ inches, inside ^^-2^ 

 inches. 



It has not been my aim to bur- 

 den the reader with individual 

 description of size and markings 

 of sets, but a short generalization 

 may not be out of place. There 

 are two types of coloration to be 

 observed in the eggs of this spe- 

 cies. In the first, the ground 

 color varies from nearly white to 

 a rich cream with a pinkish tinge, 

 fading when blown. The spots 

 are light chestnut brown, bold in 

 marking and sometimes increas- 

 ing to blotches, but in general 

 are sparsely scattered over the 

 larger end. In the second type, 

 the ground is darker and the 

 spots dark brown approaching 

 black, of much smaller size and 

 more numerous. I have observed 

 sets having eggs of each type in 

 the same set, but usually eggs of 

 the same set are similar. In one 

 set before me, the ground color 



is almost white with very few 

 markings. • 



These few notes have been 

 taken from my field-books, cover- 

 ing observations of two years. 

 Several other nests with eggs, 

 aside from those mentioned, 

 were found and also allowed to 

 hatch, but unfortunately I was un- 

 able to watch the rearing of the 

 young on account of limited time. 

 Nothing could have pleased me 

 better than to have remained with 

 my bird friends the summer long, 

 but business cares demanded my 

 return and I regretfully left for 

 my city home with an increased 

 love for my little friends of the 

 summer. 



The American Crow. 



BY H. HEATON, GLENDALE. 



Paper read before the First Congress of 

 I. O. A, 



The relation of the American 

 Crow to Economics: 



The considerable size of the 

 Crow and the great numbers in 

 which it is found make it worth 

 consideration in its relation to the 

 welfare of mankind. 



Not much time need be given 

 to it as a food product, notwith- 

 standing that Prince Murat, while 

 pursuing his studies in Natural 

 History in Florida and receiving 



