204 _ BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 
Family CORVIDZ. 
Sub-family CORVINA. 
Genus CoRVUS, Th. 
57. Corvus americanus, Aud. American common Crow. 
Corvus corone, Wils., Bp., Sw. & Rich., Nutt. 
Corvus americanus, Aud., Bp., Nutt., Maxim., Gir., and of authors generally. 
Length, 19.00 to 20.00; wing, 13.00 to 13.50; tail, about 8.00. 
Hab.—Temperate North America, excepting, probably, most of the 
high central plains and the Southern Rocky Mountains, where the 
Raven abounds (Coues). Bermuda (resident). 
The early history of this bird, so far as the Bermudas are concerned, 
is somewhat obscure. In Smith’s “‘ History of Virginia” (to which colony 
Bermuda at one time belonged), date 1623, Crows are mentioned as 
peing numerous in the islands. Colonel Wedderburn says, however 
{Nat. in B., p. 33): “A few of these birds are generally to be seen be- 
tween the light-house and Hamilton. I have never found their nests, 
but they are known to have bred, as a few young Crows were observed 
near Warwick Church during the first week of April, 1849. It is sup- 
posed that they were introduced from Nova Scotia some few years 
ago.” Mr. Hurdis did not, apparently, find the species numerous, for 
he says (Nat. in B., p. 66): “‘In August, 1854, eleven of these Crows were 
observed associating together at Gibbs Hill by the late Colonel Oakley, 
Fifty-sixth Regiment. This was double the number which had hitherto 
frequented those parts, and arose, doubtless, from the young of that 
season.” It is somewhat difficult to reconcile the above evidence. Can 
the species, once numerous, have become extinct, and have then been 
introduced again? This is possible, but I am inclined to the belief that 
there have been Crows, more or less, in Bermuda since 1623, their wary 
nature and their partiality for the dense cedar groves causing them to 
have been but little noticed. However it may be, they are numerous 
now; so much so that a price has been set on their devoted heads by a 
recent enactment—half-a-crown a bird, and sixpence anegg. That this 
is a wise and necessary measure is universally conceded, as they do 
much damage in the breeding season by destroying young poultry, and 
the eggs and young of the other resident birds. As is well known, this 
species is gregarious, except during the actual time of breeding. As 
soon as the young are well able to fly the scattered families consort 
