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CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER. 
NUCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA. 
PLATE CCCLXII. Avvutr. 
No sooner had I examined perfect specimens of this somewhat sin- 
gularly coloured bird, than I felt assured, more especially from the 
form of its bill, that it is with us a representative of the Nutcracker of 
Europe ; and I was much surprised, on comparing it with the figure 
given of it by AtExanpEer Whxtsov, to find the latter very defective, 
the bill being nearly half an inch shorter than in four specimens which 
I have inspected. All that is known of its habits-is contained in the 
following notes from Mr Nurtatr and Dr TownseEnp. 
“ We first observed this species in a smail pine grove, on the bor- 
ders of Bear River, in the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, where 
they were probably breeding, in the month of July. We again saw a 
considerable flock of the young birds early in August, in a lofty ravine 
near the summit of one of the three belts or isolated mountains, about 
thirty or forty miles west of the Shoshonee River. They appeared 
somewhat shy, and scattered through a grove of aspens, flying with a 
slight chatter, scarcely a caw, from the tops of the bushes or trees, on 
to the ground, probably in” quest of insect food. We never saw this 
species either on the lower plains or forests of the Columbia, or in any 
part of Upper California. It appears never to descend below the moun- 
tain plains.” T.N. 
“ CiarKe’s Crow, Corvus columbianus. First found on Bear River, 
and afterwards on the Blue Mountains, plentiful. Its flight is very 
unlike that of the Common Crow, being performed by jerks, like that 
of the Woodpecker. When sitting, it is almost constantly screaming ; 
its voice is very harsh and grating, and consists of one rather prolonged 
note. It breeds here in very high pine trees. The White Pelican 
also seen here in July, no doubt breeds ; also the Canvass-backed Duck, 
the Shoveller, and Dusky Duck; found young of all of them. The 
Corvus columbianus is never seen within five hundred miles of the mouth 
of the Columbia. It appears generally to prefer a mountainous country 
and pine trees; and feeds chiefly on insects and their larve.” J. K. T. 
