BIEDS OF NORTHEKN CANADA 3!)1 



April, 1900. The nest was a large structure of sticks and 

 weeds lined with animal fur and built on top of a spruce 

 tree. 



Major Bendire states that " nidification begins occasion- 

 ally in the latter part of April, more generally, however, 

 about the middle of May, and sometimes not until the first 

 week in June. From four to six eggs are usually laid to 

 a set, and only one brood is raised in a season. The eggs 

 do not differ materially from those of the American raven; 

 but as a rule they are broader, more of a short ovate, and 

 consequently somewhat larger." 



The Dominion Museum at Ottawa holds three bird speci- 

 mens, parts of four sets of eggs, and one perfect set of five 

 eggs, including among them five eggs taken at Artillery Lake, 

 north-east of Great' Slave Lake, by Mr. Fairchild. 



In the months of February and March, 1865, a raven 

 became almost domesticated at Fort Anderson. At first it 

 fed on garbage with a companion outside of the post, but 

 shortly after it appeared alone, alighting within the stockade 

 square, and would allow itself to be very closely approached 

 by the iiunates. Several young dogs soon became friendly 

 and familiar therewith, and they would even frolic and gam- 

 bol together. It was never known to attempt to injure the 

 smallest of them, nor did they ever offer to annoy it. While 

 this raven appeared to have full confidence in the people of 

 the establishment, it kept at a careful distance from all 

 Indian or Eskimo visitors. It, however, suddenly disap- 

 peared one day, having doubtless come to grief in some way 

 unknown to us. 



488. Ameeican Ceow — Corvus brachyrynchos Brehm. 



In previous Check Lists this species figured under 

 C. Americanus, Audubon. This crow undoubtedly breeds 

 at Pelican Narrows, where Mr. H. McKay shot an example 

 early in June, 1891. A nest containing two eggs was found 

 near Cumberland House about the same time. Both par- 



