BIEDS OF NOETHEEJST OAJSTADA 393 



In some specimens these are large, and irregularly distributed 

 over the egg, usually predominating about the larger end, 

 leaving the ground colour clearly visible. In others again 

 the markings are fine, profuse, and evenly distributed, giving 

 the egg a uniform dark olive-green colour throughout. The 

 shell is finely granulated, strong, and occasionally rather 

 lustrous." 



In the Dominion Museum at Ottavp-a there are twelve 

 skins, including an albino taken near Port Hope, Ontario, 

 and five sets of crovfs' eggs obtained at various Canadian 

 points, but mainly from the ISTorth-West. 



489. IN'oeth-Wbst Ceow — Corvus caurinus Baird. 



On 7th June, 1889, an Indian brought in the parent bird 

 and five eggs. The nest vs^as placed on a tall Douglas pine 

 at a distance of several miles from Fort St. James, and in 

 construction and composition it resembled that of a common 

 crow. The eggs contained such well-developed embryos that 

 four of them got broken in the process of emptying them, 

 and only one, with its mother, went forward to Washington, 

 where it was receipted under this heading. Not abundant 

 in ISTew Caledonia district. Four or five eggs are usually 

 laid to a set, and neither these nor the nests differ materially 

 from those of the common crow ; they average a trifle smaller, 

 and the same description will answer for both. In the more 

 northern portions of the range nidification usually begins in 

 the latter part of May or the beginning of June. The 

 Dominion Museum at Ottawa contains twelve bird specimens 

 from British Columbia and but one set of four eggs, taken on 

 the sandspit at Comox, Vancouver Island, on 3rd May, 1887, 

 by the Kev. G. W. Taylor ! 



491. Claeke's JSTutceackee — Nucifraga columhianus 

 (Wilson). 



Although not referred to by Major Bendire, yet we hold 

 bis receipt for a male example of this bird, shot out of a 

 large flock which flew near Fort St. James on 13th May, 



