332 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Mr. Amos W. Butler, Indiana's state ornithologist, has just informed me (Septem- 

 ber 21, 1897) that the Raven has recently been found breeding in Martin and Du Bois 

 counties of that state. It Is the only record I have of the Raven's nesting in this 

 part of the Ohio Valley. In Ohio it ciust be considered a rare winter visitor, and a 

 few may breed in the northern portion. The bird was more common in former years 

 than at present. i 



487. WHITE-NECKED BAVEN. Corvus cryptoleucus Couch. Geog. Dist.— 

 Southwestern United States and tablerlands , of Mexico, north to Indian Territory, 

 Kansas, Colorado and Southern California, south to Guatemala. 



The White-necked Raven is an abupdant species throughout most of its range.' 

 The bird's general appearance and its nesting. habits are similar to those of the Com- 

 mon crow, with which it is often confounded. From four to seven eggs are laid by 

 this species, and they have, on the whole, markings of a lighter color than the eggs 

 of other species of Corvus; and in addition they have lines running from one end 

 of the egg to the other, somewhat after the manner of those on the genus Myiarchua, 

 of the Flycatchers, of which the most familiar example is the Crested Flycatcher, M. 

 crinitus. This peculiarity is typical of the species, and is found constant in a large 

 series in the collection of thp National Museum, at Washington. A set of five eggs 

 in Mr. Norris' cabinet was taken May 16, 1888, in Cochise county, Arizona, from a 

 nest in an oak tree. The eg^ are of a pale bluish-green, spotted with clove-brown, 

 and profusely streaked with longitudinal lines of olive-gray. They measure: 1.74x 

 1.19, 1.77x1.21, 1.67x1.18, 1.76x1.18, 1.77x1.21. 



488. AHEB.ICAIT CROW. Corvus americanus Aud. Geog. Dist.i— Eastern 

 North America except Southern Florida and Arctic regions. 



An abundant bird .in all the Eastern States, where it is well knowni The nest is 

 built in woods, preferably in high, thick forest, and the tree selected is one of thick 

 foliage. > In pine regions the cedar is the favorite tree. The altitude is usually so 

 great that the nest is practically inaccessible. In quiet, solitary places, however, I 

 have found it placed not more than ten or fifteen feet from the ground. It is built 

 of twigs and sticks, sometimes of considerable size, firmly interlaced, while weeds 

 and grass, often with clods of earth attached, form part of the structure. The lining 

 Is of leaves, grapevine bark and fine grasses. Mr. Frank L. Burhs has probably 

 given us the best history of the American Crow that has yet been written. In a 

 monograph* of forty-one pages the general habits, particularly the feeding, nesting, 

 roosting, flight, relative abundance, etc., is recorded. These facts and figures are 

 from cbmpetent observers within the geographical range of this bird. Concerning 

 the material of the nest, he says: "The composition of the nest varies somewhat, 

 of course, with the local surroundings, as well as with the individual builder's ex- 

 perience and 'taste' as to the proper material for building. They rarely use a de- 

 serted squirrel's nest. The typical nest is composed of coarse sticks, strips of bark, 

 clods of earth, dead leaves; lined with hog bristles, strips of grape vine bark; the 

 inner bark of chestnut or oak, cow hair, or horse hair. Occasionally the body of the 

 nest will contain moss, grass, rootlets, com stalks, cloth (often' from some dilapi- 

 dated 'scare crow'), corn husks, weed stalks, pieces of rope, dried cow and horse 

 manure, feathers, pieces of matting, sheep's wool, twine, or seaweed. The lining 



* Bulletin No. 5; The Wilson Ornithological Chapter of the Agasslz Association. The 

 American Crow (Corvus Americanus), with special reference to its Nest and Eggs. By 

 Frank L. Burns. Oberlin, Ohio, March 15. 1?95. 



