BLACK OR IRIDESCENT BLACK 405 



locally in small numbers, nesting in colonies on the 

 high perpendicular cliffs. Dr. Merriam reports it from 

 Inyo County, California, and Dr. A. K. Fisher writes of it 

 in tlie " Ornithology of the Death Valley Expedition " as 

 follows : " The Black Swift was first observed at Owens 

 Lake near Keeler, California, where a number were seen 

 flying back and forth over the salt meadows. . . . When 

 the flock left the marsh it rose high in the air and went 

 in the direction of the cliffs in the Inyo Mountains, 

 where a colony was evidently breeding." 



In flight this species are even more rapid and graceful 

 than the chimney swifts, rarely if ever alighting on the 

 ground or in trees. 



Their food consists of small insects caught in their 

 large mouths while flying swiftly through the air. 



486. AMERICAN RAVEN. — Corvus corax dmiatus. 



Family ; The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. 



Length: 21.50-26.00. 



Adults: Entire plumage iridescent black, with purple and green lights ; 



feathers of the throat lanceolate, distinct from one another ; feathers 



of the neck dull gray at the base. 

 Geographical Distrihiiiion : From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ; 



from Canada to Guatemala. 

 Breeding Range: Southern California and islands adjacent. Kecorded 



north to Red Bluff and Humboldt Bay. 

 Breeding Season : March 15 to June 1. 

 Nest : Bulky structure ; of coarse sticks ; lined with bark, wool, or goats' 



hair ; placed in trees or on cliffs according to locality, which is always 



inaccessible. 

 Eggs: 5 to 7 ; thickly spotted with brown, purple, and" gray. Size 1.92 



X 1.27. 



Throughout the coast district of California, " wher- 

 ever tall bare cliffs rise from the valleys and deep, steep- 



