114 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



2. Order INSESSORES.— The Perching Birds. 



1. Tribe CONIROSTRES. 

 1. Genus CORVUS, Lhm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 155 (1766). 



1. CoRYUS CARNIVORUS, Barf ram. — The American Raven, 



Corvus carnivorns, Bartram, Trav. p. 290 (1791). 

 Corvus cacolofl, Wagler, Isis, XXIV, p. 527 (1881). 



Corvus Ivijuhris, Agassiz, Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Boston, II, p. 188 (1846). 



Wilson, Am. Oni. IX, Phite LXXV, fig. 3 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate 

 CI ; oct. ed. IV, Plate CCXXIV. 



Specimens of the raven from California in the collection of the Ex- 

 pedition present no points of difference, so far as we can discover, 

 from others now before us, which were obtained on the Atlantic coast 

 of the United States. The American species is. moreover, quite diffi- 

 cult to be distinguished from that of Europe, if not specifically identi- 

 cal, and the diflerences relied on by naturalists might, we suspect, be 

 detected on comparison of different specimens only of the latter. 



This very remarkable bird is numerous in Western America, and 

 was frequently noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition, in the 

 Vincennes and Peacock. According to Mr. Peale, it was observed " on 

 the whole route of the Expedition, from the Columbia River to the Bay 

 of San Francisco, in California." Dr. Pickering frequently alludes to it 

 as occurring at various localities in Oregon and California. He especially 

 mentions the interesting fact, that he often noticed this bird sailing 

 " much," he says, " in the manner of a hawk or a vulture." 



2. CoRVUS AMERicANUS, Aiiilubon. — The American Crow. 



Corvus americanus, AuDUBON, Orn. Biog. II, p. 317 (1834). 



