THE BIRD BOOK 



488. Crow. Corvus 



brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. 



Range. — Whole of North America south of 

 the Arctic Circle; most abundant In eastern 

 United States; rare in many localities in the 

 west. 



A m p r i c a n Crow 



A nipii 



Y-lAVfl 



low. In the fall and winter, 

 one piece of woods 



Bluish white 



Gi'oenisli w]Titn 



These birds, against which the hand of every 



farmer is uplifted, are very shy and cunning; 



as is well known, they nearly always post a 



sentinel in some tree top to keep watch while 



the rest of the flock is feeding in the field be- 



arge numbers of them flock, and at night all roost 



some of the "crow roosts" are of vast extent and 



contain thousands of individuals. Crows nest 



near the tops of large trees, preferably pines, 



either in woods or single trees in fields. Their 



nests are made of sticks and lined with rootlets, 



and the eggs, which are laid in April or May, 



range from four to seven in number, are a bluish 



or greenish white, sparingly or very densely 



speckled, spotted and blotched with various shades 



of brown and lilac. Size 1.60 x 1,15. 



488a. Florida Crow. Corvus 

 hrnchyrhynchos pnscnus. 



Range. — Florida. 



This variety has a slightly shorter tail and wings than the last. 



490. Fi.sH Crow. Corvus ossifragus. 



Range. — Northwest coast from Oregon to Alaska. 



This small Crow which is but 16 Inches in length, is found only on the coast, 

 where they feed upon shell fish and offal. They nest, as do the Ravens, either 

 on ledges or in tree tops. The eggs resemble those of the common Crow, but 

 are smaller. Size 1.55 x 1.05. 



489. Northwestern Crow. Corvn.i cnuriniis. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north 

 in summer to Connecticut. 



From Virginia southward, this small Crow 

 (length 16 inches) is more abundant on the coast 

 than the common Crow which is often in company 

 with this species. Their food consists of grain, 

 berries, and animal matter. Their nesting habits 

 are like those of the common Crow and the eggs 

 are similar and have as great variations, but are 

 gmaller. Size 1.45 x 1.05. 



312 



Bluish white 



