COMMON CROW. 309 



The family is divided into the following genera: 



1, Corvus LiNNfi. Ravens and Crows. Five species. 



2, Pkicorvus Bonaparte. Nutcrackers. One species. 



3, Cyanocepbalus Bonaparte. Pinon Jays. One species. 



4, Pica Brisson. Magpies. Two species. 



5, Cyanocitta Strickland. Blue Jays. Two species. 



6, Apbelocoma Cabanis. Mountain Jays. Four species. 



7, Xantboura Bonaparte. Green Jays. One species. 



8, Perisoreus Bonaparte. Canada Jays. Two species. 



The American Raven, Corvus corax sinuatas Ridgway, is only a variety of thie 

 European species, and exceedingly rare in all the localities where I have made my 

 observations. It is distributed over the western parts of the country from the Rocky 

 Mountains to the Pacific, and south to Guatemala. Dr. Elliott Coues found hundreds, 

 if not thousands of them at Fort Whipple, Ariz. "Throughout the western wilds they 

 hang on the footsteps of man, needy adventurers, claiming their share of his spoils, 

 disputing with the wolves and vultures for the refuse of his camp." 



Its main food is carrion. Color entirely black. Length, 24 to 25 inches. 



The Northern Raven, Corvus corax principalis Ridgway, another variety, inhabits 

 northern North America, south to British Columbia, etc. 



The Whijte-necked Raven, Corvus cryptoleucus Couch, inhabits the valley of the 

 Rio Grande and Gila, south into Mexico. Major Chas. Bendire found this Raven to be 

 common at Tucson, Ariz. 



COMMON CROW. 



Corvus americanus Audubon. 



O wild, free rover of the ttpper sky, 



How small from that clear height must man appear. 



Creeping., ou earth — his grave forever near — 

 With clouds and tears diitnming his earth-bent eye. 

 Though lifted far above the earth, gocst by, 



Companioned by the friendly atmosphere, 



Scanning the large horizon, blue and clear, 

 And sfeeing far, pine forests darkly lie 



A cloud of green moveless upon the hill. 

 There in the shelter of the sombre trees 



With numberless companions thou wilt rest; 

 No sound to fright, but only the slow breeze 



To sing and rock to sleep the forest's guest, 

 And with content his quiet hours to fill. 



B- J. L.OOMXS. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the constant persecutions to which the Crow, has been 

 subjected from the beginning of the settlement of our country to the present 

 time, it is still a well-known and abundant bird in most localities from Florida and 

 Texas to the Arctic regions and from the Atlantic to the Great Plains. Though numerous 



