NORTHWESTERN MEXICO. 283 



I have no doubt that the two species are rightly determined by Mr. Cassin, for in gen- 

 eral coloration and in form they are as described by Mr. Swainson and by himself The 

 bill of Q. palustris is shorter, and very much wider at the base than in Q. tenuirostris, the 

 latter species is somewhat larger in all its measurements. 



Fam. CoEViD^. 



102. Oorvus eorax var. carnivorus Bartram. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" Not common, but occasionally met ■with at any season." 



103. Corvus mexicanus Schl. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, !^antus. 



" So far as I am acquainted with this species it appears to be confined in its geographical distribution to the 

 northwestern parts of Mexico, bordering the sea coast. In Tehuantepec I did not see it, nor have I met with 

 it anywhere in the interior far from the sea. It is quite common at San Bias and Santiago River, and I am 

 inclined to believe that its geographical range rests principally within the limits of these regions. 



"It breeds in San Bias, forming its nest in the tallcocoanut palms that grow in the town, and I also found 

 some breeding similarly in the suburbs of Mazatlan ; but it is more numerous on the Mazatlan River ; there I 

 discovered its nest in the thomy mimosa trees. The nest is composed of small sticks and grass, much like 

 that of the common crow ; the eggs too are much like those of that species, but smaller. 



" This is the smallest crow yet discovered upon our Continent, and is decidedly the handsomest. It is im- 

 possible to convey to the reader, either by pen or pencil, the glossy satin-like appearance of its plumage ; in 

 some lights exhibiting the most delicate and beautiful shades of purple, violet and bronzy reflections, so 

 smooth, compact and soft is it, that the light trembles and scintillates from its surface as from polished steel. 

 Its form is compact, and its general appearance much like the common crow, as well as its habits, though the 

 present species is a little more arborial, feeding upon the various kinds of fruit which it finds in the trees of 

 the tropical forests. Like the common crow, however, it often descends to the ground in search of insects 

 and their larva, which it hunts for by turning up bits of wood, and in the newly ploughed fields ; but it may 

 be more frequently seen upon the seashore at low tide, near the mouth of the Esteros, searching for the small 

 crabs, snails and other shell-fish that abound in such localities. 



" In the fall and winter months they congregate in large flocks, visiting the fields of Indian corn first rip- 

 ened, in which they do considerable damage ; but unlike the American crow, he is not persecuted to death 

 for this bit of roguery. The natives seldom molest them. They sometimes visit the sand bars of the river in 

 large flocks, for the purpose of bathing. The voice of this crow is something like that of the common species, 

 but less harsh, indeed some of its notes are quite musical." 



104. Cyanocitta heecheyi (Vig-). 



Cyanocorax beecheyi Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 333. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, Bischoflf; Tres Marias, Xantus. 



"This, I believe, is the largest of the true jays, nearly as large as the small crow found in the same locality, 

 and which the male veiy much resembles about the head. The colors are very rich and decided, all the under 

 parts, head and neck, of a jetty-black, the back, wings and tail being of a beautiful blue, with a purplish 

 wash ; the bill of the female is yellow, that of the male black ; the feet of both being yellow, armed with 

 sharp strong claws, nearly as powerful in their grip as those of some small hawks ; no difference in the colors 

 of the male and female, except in the bill and eyes. 



"There is nothing it will not pilfer and carry ofl^ if able to do so, when it visits the huts and ranchos of the 

 natives, and hen's eggs he is particularly fond of; he never fails to rob every bird's nest of its eggs, provided 

 the parents are not successful in driving him off, but in these thieving exploits he is very shy and quiet, gen- 

 erally succeeding in evading the weaker parent birds, who do all in their power to drive the heartless invader 

 away from their dear treasures. 



