LAND BIRDS. 417 
193. Northern Raven. Corvus corax principalis Ridgw. (486a) 
Pe Ge en Raven.—Corvus corax, Wils., Nutt.—Corvus carnivorus 
Q 58, Coues, 51. .—Corv rax principali i 38 8 Janne 
a eae ete.—Corvus corax principalis, Ridgw., 1887, A. O. U. Com- 
Figure 99, 
Known at a glance by its strong resemblance to the common Crow, 
from which it is readily separated by its much greater size, the lance-shaped 
separate feathers of the throat and neck (Fig. 99) and the graduated tail 
Distribution.—Northern North America, south to isa fish Columbia, 
eee Michigan, New Brunswick, Maine, New Jersey, North Caroma 
etc. 
During the early history of Michigan the Raven was an abundant bird 
and even forty years ago it was fully as abundant about Lansing as was 
the common Crow. At the present time it is confined almost entirely to 
the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the more heavily wooded 
Fig. 99. Heads of Crow and Raven (at right) to show telative size. 
Photograph from mounted specimens. (Original.) 
portions of the Upper Peninsula, and even there it is by no means abundant. 
Stragglers may wander south in winter and it would not be surprising 
if an occasional individual were to be found in winter at any point in the 
state; nevertheless the Raven must be considered a vanishing bird and its 
extinction doubtless will be complete within a very few years. 
According to B. H. Swales it was formerly common in Wayne county, 
but is now probably extinct; the latest record for that vicinity being a 
pair seen by Mr. J. Claire Wood in 1885, not far from Windsor, Ont., just 
across the river from Detroit. McIlwraith, in his Birds of Ontario, states 
that he had a specimen in his collection which was obtained at St. Clair 
Flats, where it was said to be an occasional visitor in the fall. That, 
however, was previous to 1894. In 1879, according to A. W. Brayton, 
it was not uncommon along the shores of Lake Michigan from October 
until spring, eating the dead fish thrown up by the Lake (Trans. Ind. Hort, 
Soc., 1879, p. 129). Jerome Trombley states that it was common at 
Petersburg, Monroe county, when he was a boy, but is now entirely extinct, 
Mr. John Hazelwood of Port Huron writes that formerly he shot a good 
many near that place, but of late years never sees them. Dr. Gibbs states 
53 
