FISH CROW. ng 



FISH CROW. {Corvus ossifragus) 



PLATE XXXVII.— Fig 2. 



Peale's Museum, No. 1369. 

 CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS.— Wilson.* 

 Corvus ossifragus, Bonap. Synop. p. 57. 



This is another roving inhabitant of our sea-coasts, ponds, and 

 river shores, though a much less distinguished one than the 

 preceding, this being the first time, as far as I can learn, that 

 he has ever been introduced to the notice of the world. 



I first met with this species on the sea-coasts of Georgia, and 

 observed that they regularly retired to the interior as evening 

 approached, and came down to the shores of the river 

 Savannah by the first appearance of day. Their voice first 

 attracted my notice, being very different from that of the 

 common crow, more hoarse and guttural, uttered as if some- 

 thing stuck in their throat, and varied into several modulations 

 as they flew along. Their manner of flying was also unlike 

 the others, as they frequently sailed about, without flapping 

 the wings, something in the manner of the raven ; and I soon 

 perceived that their food, and their mode of procuring it, were 

 also both different : their favourite haunts being about the 

 banks of the river, along which they usually sailed, dexterously 



* This is a very curious bird, first named and described by our author. 

 It is one of the predacious species, with the nostrils clothed with 

 feathers, and seems to feed nearly alone on fish or reptiles, doing almost 

 no harm to the husbandman. In the latter circumstance, it resembles 

 also our carrion crow, which often kills the common frog ; and last 

 summer I observed one flying with an adder in his bill. He had 

 caught it on a detached piece of muir, and, on my approach, rose, tak- 

 ing the prey along with him, most probably before it was sufficiently 

 despatched, as the writhings of the reptile caused him to alight several 

 times at short distances, before being perfectly at ease. Being on horse- 

 back, I could not follow to see the end of the engagement. The species 

 seems peculiar to the coast of North America, and does not extend very 

 far northward.— Ed. 



