102 The Biros of Albany County 



I alluded above to the occasional fishing habits of our 

 common Crow. Herein is food for reflection for the evolu- 

 tionist, for the North American avifauna contains the regular 

 Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) which keeps Lent throughout 

 the year by living entirely on a fish diet. I may say that the 

 Fish Crow is smaller than Corvus americanus and has a cracked 

 voice, which more than anything else distinguishes him from his 

 near relative; but this is hsu'dly apropos of my subject, 

 as the range of the Fish Crow does not extend farther north 

 than southern Connecticut, and he is never seen in Albany 

 County. 



Subfamily Garrulinse 



Blue Jay. — C^anodtta crUlata. 11.75 



Common Summer Resident; Rare in Winter 



Field marks. — Wings and tail bright blue, barred with black 

 and white; upper parts bluish-gray; pronounced occipital 

 crest; throat gray; black collar about neck; under parts 

 whitish. 



The Blue Jay is hardly second to the Crow in cunning, 

 ways that are peculiar, and general knowledge of the habits 

 and proclivities of his natural enemy, man. 



TTie ornithologist is rather inclined to make friends with 

 the Jay if occasion admits, but the sportsman harbors for him 

 a contempt which generally means sure death if he gets within 

 range of his gun. You see the Jay has such well-developed 

 ears, and such a clear vision, that he takes it upon himself to 



