EAVEN. 363 



number of nests are placed in the holes of limbs and hollow trunks of 

 trees, especially sycamore and oak. In some localitias where oak trees 

 have been " topped," the nest is placed on the end of the '' stub." 



The nest is composed of mud, with a foundation of grass and weeds, 

 and a lining of fine grasses and frequently hair. The eggs are from four 

 to six. Their " ground color is light greenish or smoky blue, with irreg- 

 ular dark-brown or black -blotches, dots, lines, and scrawls distibuted 

 promiscuously oVer the surface, often resembling Japanese characters." 

 They measure 1.13 by .83. 



FAMILY CORVIDiE. THE CROWS. 



Primaries, 10; the first usually about half the seooud; the outer four siuuated on the 

 inner edge. Nostrils concealed by stiffened bristles or bristly feathers directed forwards. 

 Tarsus with soutella separated from the lateral plates by a narrow naked strip. Basal 

 joint of middle toe united for about half its length to eaeh lateral. Bill notched. 



Svb-family CORVINE. Typical Crows. 

 Bill as long as head ; wings long and pointed, longer than the short, nearly even taU. 



Genus COEVUS. Linnajua. 



Bill nearly as long as tarsus, very stout, higher than broad at base, much arched; 

 tarsns longer than middle toe. 



COKVUS COBAX L. 



Corvua corax, Wilson, Am. Orn., ix, 1825, 136. — Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv,, 1838, 162, 

 180.— Audubon, B. Am., iv, 1843, 86.— Read, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1853, 327; Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vi, 1853, 395. — Wheaton, Pood of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric, 

 Eep. for 1874, 1875, 568; Reprint, 8.— Cotjes, Birde of N, W., 1874, 205.— Langdon, 

 Cat. Birds of Gin., 1877, 10; Journ. Gin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1878, 115; Reprint, 6. 



Corvua carnivorus, Wheaton, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 1861, 367 ; Reprint, 9. 



Corvua corax var, carnivorua, Langdon, Revised List, Journ. Gin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 

 177; Reprint, 11; Field Notes, ib, iii, 1880, 125. 



Raven, Kirtland, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 1. 



Corvua corax, LiNNiEUS. 



Corvua carnivorus, Bartkam, Trav. Fla,, i, 1793, 290. 



Corvua corax var. carnivorua, Baird, Brkwbr, and Ridqwat, N. A. Birds, ii, 1875, 234. 



Entire lustrous black ; throat feathers acute, lengthened, and disconnected. Length, 

 about 2 feet ; wing, 16-18 inches ; tail, 10. 



Habitat, North America. Rare east of the Mississippi. 



Rare winter visitor. Early in the history of the State the Raven was 

 not uncommon. Wilson speaks of it as entirely supplanting the Crow 

 on the southern shores of Lake Erie. It soon became less numerous, and 

 in the course of fifty years had disappeared as a regular visitor from all 

 parts excepting the northern portions of the State, where it is now rare. 



