694 $ ZOOLOGY. 
variety of wild animals including the deer, gray wolf and black 
ear. 
As the entire fauna and flora seemed to be unchanged, a good 
opportunity was afforded for observing the influence of advancing 
civilization. Many interesting facts were observed in regard to 
both plants and animals, some of which may be of importance as 
illustrating the habits of certain species. 
During the first winter, the raven (Corvus corax) was frequently 
seen, sometimes solitary, but more frequently in flocks of from 
eight to ten in number, flying along the watercourses or hovering 
over thickets into which a wounded deer had been chased. They 
were less frequently seen during the summer, probably going north 
to their breeding place, as no nests were ever found in that section. 
The country lying north and northwest was almost one unbroken 
wilderness to Lake Superior, while the southern boundary was 
formed by the Fox'river at a distance varying from twenty to 
thirty miles. 
During the following season a larger number of settlements 
were made, while the Indians were gradually removed. The 
ravens returned for two or three following seasons, though in 
diminished numbers. During this whole period, as far as I am 
able to learn, not a single specimen of the common crow (Corvus 
Americana) was seen or heard in the whole region. While he was 
a resident of the southern and eastern parts of the state, he seems 
to have carefully avoided the Indian lands. It was not till more 
than a year after the disappearance of the raven that the first 
crow, a single straggler, appeared, uttering his well known ‘‘ caw,” 
advancing northward evidently on a tour of exploration. He 
seems to have carried back a favorable report, for soon others ap- 
peared, and in a short time the species became very common. 
Several interesting inquiries arise in relation to the habits of 
these animals. Do they ever exist together, or is there any an- 
tagonism between the species? Although the distance was not 
more than twenty miles to Fox river, the southern boundary of 
these lands, the raven was not known to advance farther south, nor 
the crow to visit the lands occupied by the former. Whether the 
raven is now found within the limits of the state I am unable 
to determine. : 
Dr. Coues in his “Key to North American Birds” gives the habi- 
tat of the raven ‘‘ North America; but now rare in the Uni 
