68 The Ornithology of Chester County 



ener). 



123. Corvus brachvrhynchos Crow. Common 

 resident, abundant in winter. A famous roost lo- 

 cated on the North Valley hills near Diamond rock, 

 was visited as early as 1889 by the writer, and in 

 1899, 1900 and 1901 by Dr. W. E. Rotzell. It 

 occupied probably ten acres and shifted from place 

 to place as the birds were disturbed. Flight lines 

 have shown that the Crows sought this roost from 

 Audubon on the Perkiomen, Port Kennedy, Norris- 

 town, Conshohocken, Bryn Mawr, Radnor, Devon, 

 Wawa, Westtown and League Island. 



Prior to 1890, another roost was situated on the 

 North Valley hills near Coatesville. T. H. Windle 

 estimated the number at from 30,000 to 50,000. In 

 1895, this roost was on the south ridge, between 

 Coatesville and Pomeroy; later shifted back to the 

 north ridge, which was occupied for several winters, 

 according to H. E. Stone. Crows returned to this 

 roost from Kennett Square, Timicular, Mortonville 

 and probably from Lenape ; while a number of other 

 flight-lines converged from the north and west (Cog- 

 gins, Cass., vii, 34, 36-38 and map). Nidification 

 commences as early as Mar. 20 in open seasons, and 

 the average date for a complete set is Apr. 15. 



124. Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow, "crow." Tol- 

 erably common resident, formerly quite rare or ab- 

 sent except in the southern part of the county. 

 Some years prior to 1888, J. H. Matlack took a set 

 of eggs somewhere along the Brandywine (Warren, 

 Bds. Pa., 162). On Mar. 6, 1891, Frank H. Stauf- 

 fer, of Berwyn, found a dead male in his yard and 



