572 



I find some European and Asiatic specimens with the plumage fully as highly burnished, and 

 not differing in the least in shade of colour from American examples ; and as regards the alleged 

 difference in the size of the bill, my table of measurements will show how little this character 

 can be relied on. Writing on its range, Professor Baird says : — " We find this bird more or less 

 common throughout nearly the whole continent. It is much more abundant in some regions 

 than in others, and, as a general rule, is much more common and also more generally distributed 

 in the western portion, where also its habits are remarkably different from the manners of its 

 eastern representative. 



" It seems to be more or less common throughout the Arctic regions. Mr. Kennicott met 

 with Eavens at Lake Winnipeg. Mr. MacFarlane found them abundant at Lockhart River, at 

 Fort Anderson, and on the Lower Anderson River. Mr. Ross obtained them at Fort Simpson, 

 Mr. Reid at Big Island, Mr. Clarke at Fort Rae, Mr. Lockhart at Fort Resolution, and Mr. Dall 

 at Nulato, in Alaska. 



" In the Eastern States the Raven is a comparatively rare bird, except in a few special 

 localities. These are usually mountain-ranges, high precipitous banks of rivers and lakes and 

 of the ocean, and among wild and lonely islands. It occurs on the Labrador coast, at Grand 

 Menan, in the Bay of Fundy, the Adirondacks, Lake George, the Hudson River, &c. Mr. 

 Lawrence speaks of it as quite common on the coast of New Jersey. It is found among the 

 mountains of Buncombe and other counties in North Carolina ; and Mr. Audubon mentions its 

 occurrence at Table Mountain, in the district of Pendleton, South Carolina. Dr. Coues found 

 Ravens not rare at Labrador, where the almost inaccessible cliffs afford them safe and convenient 

 retreats. They were so excessively wary that it was impossible to shoot them. They were seen 

 to descend in pairs to the sea-shore to feed on dead fish, crabs, and other animal substances 

 thrown up by the sea. 



" Mr. Ridgway informs me of the presence of this bird in the heavy forests of the bottom- 

 lands in Southern Illinois. It is there quite rare, however, as he has met with but a few pairs, 

 which were resident, and nesting in the tall timber of the Big-Creek bottoms, in Richland 

 County. 



" In New England these birds are very rare, and their occurrence is only accidental. One 

 has been shot on the Connecticut, and another on the Merrimack, in Massachusetts. 



" On the Pacific coast the Raven is common from Sitka to San Diego. Throughout 

 Washington territory it is said to be plentiful, more scattered in the summer, and in the 

 winter congregating about settlements and the sea-shore. At Vancouver, during the winter, 

 it was observed amicably associating with the Crows, and on the coast with the Fish-Crows; 

 but during the spring, when the latter had nests, they boldly attacked the Ravens, and drove 

 them away. 



" In California and in all the adjacent regions, Dr. Cooper states, the Raven is found every- 

 where in pairs, more numerous than in the Atlantic States, and abundant even in the most 

 barren desert districts. It follows trains and herds of cattle, and keeps on the look-out for any 

 thing befalling them. It is omnivorous, eating snakes, lizards, eggs, carrion, and even grain, 

 though the last very rarely. It is accused of destroying young chickens and lambs. 



" In Arizona Dr. Coues speaks of it as resident, and very abundant about the cattle- 



