PREFATORY NOTE. 



The present investigation of the food of the Common Crow was begun 

 in 1885, and a general request for stomachs was made in the following 

 year. A preliminary statement of the results of an examination of 98 

 stomachs — 86 of the Common Crow (Corvus americanus) and 12 of the 

 Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) — was published in the Annual Eeport 

 for 1888, pages 498-535. The present report is based on an examina- 

 tion of the contents of 909 stomachs — nearly ten times as many as were 

 available for the preliminary examination. The publication of the bul- 

 letin has been unavoidably delayed, mainly on account of the difficulty 

 in obtaining Crow stomachs during the spring and summer months, but 

 also because of the time necessary for a proper determination and study 

 of the insect material. It is hoped, however, that the completeness of 

 the investigation will atone for the delay. 



Many of the notes and stomachs that have formed the basis of this 

 report were collected by voluntary assistants in various parts of the 

 country. To all these contributors we desire to extend our thanks. 

 Nearly all the material, except the insects, found in the stomachs was 

 examined by Prof. F. E. L. Beal, assistant ornithologist, under the 

 supervision of the author. Dr. A. K. Fisher also rendered important 

 assistance in identifying doubtful material, especially during the early 

 part of the investigation. Further acknowledgments are due to Prof. 

 C. V. Riley, formerly chief of the division of entomology, under whose 

 direction the insect material was examined and reported on by Mr. E. 

 A. Schwarz $ to the late Dr. George Tasey, Botanist of the Department, 

 and to his successor, Mr. F. Y. Coville, and to other members of the 

 botanical division, for assistance in naming seeds ; and also to Mr. F. A. 

 Lucas, of the United States National Museum, for the identification of 

 many small bones and fragments, mainly of reptiles and batrachians. 



W. B. B. 



