Species III. CORVVS COLUMBIANUS. 



CLARK'S CROW. 



[Plate XX. Fig. 2.] 



This species resembles, a little, the Jackdaw of Europe [Corvus 

 monedula) ; but is remarkable for its formidable claws, which approach 

 to those of the Falco genus ; and would seem to intimate, that its food 

 consists of Hving animals, for whose destruction these weapons must be 

 necessary. In conversation with different individuals of Lewis and 

 Clark's party, I understood that this bird inhabits the shores of the 

 Columbia, and the adjacent country, in great numbers, frequenting the 

 rivers and seashore, probably feeding on fish ; and that it has all the 

 gregarious and noisy habits of the European species, several of the 

 party supposing it to be the same. 



The figure in the plate was drawn with particular care, after a minute 

 examination and measurement of the only preserved skin that was saved. 



This bird measures thirteen inches in length ; the wings, the two mid- 

 dle tail feathers, and the interior vanes of the next (except at the tip) 

 are black, glossed with steel blue ; all the secondaries, except the three 

 next the body, are white for an inch at their extremities, forming a 

 large spot of white on that part, when the wing is shut ; the tail is 

 rounded ; yet the two middle feathers are somewhat shorter than those 

 adjoining ; all the rest are pure white, except as already described' ; the 

 general color of the head, neck, and body, above and below, is a light 

 silky drab, darkening almost to a dove color on the breast and belly ; 

 vent white ; claws black, large, and hooked, particularly the middle and 

 hind-claws ; legs also black ; bill a dark horn color ; iris of the eye 

 unknown. ■ 



In the state of Georgia, and several parts of the Mississippi Terri- 

 tory, I discovered a Crow,* not hitherto taken notice of by naturalists, 

 rather larger than the present species ; but much resembling it in the 

 form and length of its wings, in its tail, and particularly its claws. 

 This bird is a constant attendant along the borders of streams and stag- 

 nating ponds, feeding on small fish and lizards, which I have many 

 times seen him seize as he swept along the surface. A well preserved 

 specimen of this bird was presented to Mr. Peale. It is highly proba- 

 ble that, with these external resemblances, the habits of both may be 

 nearly alike. 



* The Crow above alluded to is the Fish-Crow. See the next article. 



(128) 



