FAM. Xri. JATS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. 155 



blended as is usually the case. When seen with crows, ravens 

 can readily be recognized by the great difference in size, but 

 when seen alone there is difficulty in distinguishing them, as the 

 distance they are away is not easily determined. (Raven.) 



Length, 20-27 ; wing, 15-19 ; tail, 10 ; tai-sus, 2} ; culmen, 2|-3i. 

 Norttieni North America, not migratory, south to Michigan, New Jersey, 

 and along the Alleghanies to North Carolina. 



6. White-necked Raven (487. Cdrvus cryptoleit,cus). — A bird 

 similar to the last, but smaller and with the feathers of the 

 back neck white at base. 



2\ ; culmen, 2\. Texas to 



Length, 20 ; wing, 14 ; tail, 8 ; tarsus, 

 southern Calitornia and northern Mexico. 



7. American Crow (488. Cdrvus americdmis). — A very abun- 

 dant, large, black bird which is found in flocks everywhere, 

 and can be recognized by 

 its call notes of " caw-w, 

 caiv-iv." Though the crow 

 has few friends and, were 

 it not for his remarkable 

 ability to escape the gun- 

 ner, would soon become 

 extinct, it seems to thrive 

 under all circumstances 

 and in all situations. Act- 

 ing as though afraid of 

 nothing, it always knows 

 how to secure its own 

 safety. In the winter 

 the crows roost in im- 

 mense colonies in particu- 

 lar places ; during the day 



they forage for food over a great extent of country, but at 

 night all return to the regular place for rest. 



Length, 17-21 ; wing, 12} (llf-lSj) ; tail, 7^ ; tarsus, 2} ; culmen. If 

 North America, south to Mexico ; wintering from the northern United 

 States southward. The Florida Crow (488". C. a. floridanus) has the bill 

 and feet comparatively larger. Tarsus, 2| ; culmen, 2i. Florida. 



American Crow 



