38 



AMERICAN CROW. 



( Corv us Fru givoru s . ) 

 We now come to a great trespasser in the feathered 

 race, his chief delight being to uproot and eat the 

 young corn, which has cost the farmers immense time 

 and work to replace or lose. They also destroy great 

 numbers of young chickens and ducks from the poultry 

 yard; they are considered a general nuisance, and are 

 shot by farmers when they get a chance. The plumage 

 is a uniform jet black, the bill and feet large and strong. 

 They remain most of the year, and in winter often fly 

 over one-hundred miles, daily, for food. Their nests 

 are placed in high trees, mostly in the woods, and is 

 composed of large coarse sticks and leaves. Eggs, four 

 or five, pointed, light green, spotted with shades of 

 brown. 



(Cyanocitta Cristata ) 

 A tyrannical species is this fellow, always quarreling 

 or robbing the young or eggs of other birds, which they 

 often do without hesitation. They are exceedingly 

 greedy in their habits. Much ripe corn is eaten by 

 them. In autumn four or five of these birds may be 

 seen perched upon a stalk or shock eating away to their 

 hearts content. Their plumage is rich blue and white 

 variously barred and spotted; the head is crowned with 

 a crest or topnot. Their cry is harsh and very un- 

 pleasant. Their nests are made of sticks and placed in 

 a tall bush. Eggs four, oblong, their color is dull olive, 

 variously marked with the same. 



