CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE 389 



487. WHITE-NECKED RAVEN. — Corvus cryptolmcus. 

 Family : The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. 



Length: 18.75-21.00. ' 



Adults: Entire plumage iridescent black, with purplish lights, except 

 the feathers of neck, which are white at base. 



Geographical Distribution : Southwestern United States, principally in 

 the lower Sonoraii zone, from Texas to Southern California and from 

 Southern Colorado south to Mexico. 



Calif or/iia Breeding Mange : Southern part of the State in lower Sonoran 

 zone. 



Breeding Season: May 6 to July 1. 



Nest : Poorly constructed and somewhat larger than those of our common 

 crow ; made of thorny twigs ; lined with cattle hair, rabbit fur, bark, 

 grass, and moss ; placed from 7 to 20 feet from the ground. 



Eggs : 3 to 8 ; pale green, with longitudinal streaks and blotches of gray, 

 browu, and lavender, extending from end to end of the egg, and par- 

 tially hidden by spots and blotches of brown. Size 1.7i X 1.19. 



To the careless observer the White-necked Raven 

 differs from the American raven only in being more 

 slender and slightly smaller, the white of the neck being 

 at the base of the feathers and not conspicuous. In 

 appearance and voice as well as size, they resemble 

 closely the common crows, though more than an inch 

 longer. Their nests are placed in giant yucca, cactus, 

 mesquite, or other low bushes, and occasionally in oaks 

 or willows. In structure they resemble the nest of a 

 crow, being loosely thrown together of twigs and lined 

 with hair from cattle. Old nests are repaired and used 

 year after year, until they become exceedingly offensive 

 from filth. 



Incubation begins after the set of eggs is completed, 

 and lasts twenty-one days, only one brood being raised 

 each season. 



