128 CLARKE'S NUTCRACKER. 



harsh and grating, and consists of one rather prolonged note. It breeds 

 here in very high pine trees. The White Pelican also seen here in July, no 

 doubt breeds; also the Canvass-backed Duck, the Shoveller, and Dusky 

 Duck; found young of all of them. The Corvus coZicmbianus is never seen 

 within five hundred miles of the mouth of the Columbia. It appears gene- 

 rally to prefer a mountainous country and pine trees; and feeds chiefly on 

 insects and their larvse." J. K. T. 



Clarke's Crow, Corvus columbianus, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 29. 



Corvus columbianus, Bonap. Syn., p. 57. 



Columbian Crow, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 218. 



Clarke's Nutcracker, Nucifraga Columbiana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 459. 



Male, 12, wing 7-£f. 



Rocky Mountains. 



Adult Male. 



Bill as long as the head, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, at the tip 

 rather depressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuato-decli- 

 nate, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp and overlapping, 

 without notse, the tip flattened and obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short 

 and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges sharp and 

 a little inflexed, the tip flattened, and rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral, 

 roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards. 



Head large, broadly ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body 

 compact. Legs of moderate length, stout; tarsus compressed, with seven 

 large anterior scutella and two plates behind, meeting so as form a sharp 

 edge. Toes stout, with large scutella; the first toe very large, the inner a 

 little shorter than the outer, the hind much longer; the third and fourth 

 united as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws large, arched, much 

 compressed, acute. 



Plumage full, very soft and blended; the stiff bristly feathers over the 

 nostrils extend about one-fifth of the length of the bill; and there are no 

 distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible; the feathers on the head 

 are very short. The wings are long, and much rounded; the first quill two 

 inches shorter than the second, which is ten-twelfths shorter than the third, 

 the latter exceeded two-twelfths by the fourth, which is the longest; the 

 outer primaries being narrow, give the wing, when closed, the appearance of 

 being pointed. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rather broad 

 feathers, of which the lateral is half an inch shorter than the middle. 



Bill and feet brownish-black. Iris hazel. The general colour above and 

 below is light brownish-grey, the forehead, throat, fore part of cheeks, and 

 a space around the eye white, tinged with yellow. Wings black, glossed 



