27 



FISH CROW. 



CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS. 

 [Plate XXXVII.— Fig. 2.] 



Pe ale's Museum, jVb. 1369. 



THIS is another roving inhabitant of our sea-coasts, ponds, 

 and river shores ; tho a much less distinguished one than the pre- 

 ceding, 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-coast of Georgia, and 

 observed that they regularly retired to the interior as evening ap- 

 proached, 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 something stuck in their throat, and va- 

 ried 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 favorite haunts being about the 

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

 snatching up, with their claws, dead fish or other garbage that float- 

 ed on the surface. At the country seat of Stephen Elliot, esq. near 

 the Ogechee river, I took notice of these Crows frequently perching 

 on the backs of the cattle, like the Magpie and Jackdaw of Britain ; 

 but never mingling with the common Crows, and differing from 

 them in this particular, that the latter generally retire to the shore, 

 the reeds and marshes to roost, while the Fish-Crow always a little 

 before sun-set seeks the interior high woods to repose in. 



