BIRDS— CORVIDAE — CORVUS AMERICANUS. 
561 
deep, while 5186, from the upper Missouri, has it only .97 of an inch. The amount of gradua- 
tion in the tail varies from 1.60 to 1.90 inches. 
A male bird, 5543, from Petaluma, California, compared with 5186, from Fort Randall, has 
a shorter wing, (one inch,) the first quill a little longer (equal to instead of a little shorter than 
the eighth.) In 5185, from the upper Missouri, however, the first quill is nearly a quarter of an 
inch longer than the eighth ; 6857, again, from Utah, has the first quill but little shorter than the 
seventh. In 4563, from Jamacha Eanch, California, the first quill is equal to the seventh. In 
fact, very few specimens exhibit precisely the same proportions of the quills. 
The southern specimens, upon the whole, appear smaller than northern, as will be seen by 
the table of measurements. 
No. 6856, from Steilacoom, has a curious attachment to the chin in the form of a curved horn, 
about an inch long, pendent from the middle of the chin between the rami of the maxilla, and 
about If inches from its point. 
As a general thing the thickness of the bill varies considerably ; the stoutest before me is from 
Fort Riley. Sometimes it is quite slender, especially in specimens from Oregon, where the 
upper mandible is more decurved, and its inferior edge much more concave than usual. This 
feature, however, is not seen in all, some being like the average of eastern specimens. I find 
it impossible to detect any tangible differences between the Pacific coast series and those from 
the Missouri, though it should be remarked that no comparisons are made with any from the 
Atlantic States, owing to the want of specimens, and that it is quite possible that the latter 
may be entirely distinct. 1 
In the next article I have separated a raven from Bill Williams' Fork of the Colorado of the 
west on account of its longer wings and more graduated tail. I am not very decided in the 
opinion that this is really distinct, and wait for further material to settle the question. 
In the accompanying table of measurements of the three ravens here described are columns 
numbered, successively, one to eight, and showing the progression of size of the different quills. 
Where two are in the same column it indicates that they are about equal. Thus No. 5185 has 
the third and fourth quills equal and longest, then, successively, come the fifth, second, sixth, 
seventh, first, and eighth. The second is thus shorter than the fifth, but longer than the sixth ; 
the first shorter than the seventh, but longer than the eighth. The measurements of tarsus 
and middle toe cannot be regarded as very precise, the stiffness of the dried leg and the shortness 
of the basal joint of the toe, with its large overlapping scales rendering it very difficult to say 
where the tarsus ends and the toe begins. 
According to Prince Maximilian the only difference discernable to him between the European 
and American ravens is in the more slender bill of the latter. He finds the size, proportions, 
notes, and habits quite the same. 
I have not at hand specimens of the European raven for the purpose of making a critical 
comparison with our own, but most recent authors agree in considering them distinct, although 
Mr. Audubon maintained the contrary opinion. 
Bonaparte (though possibly with a Guatemala skin before him) states that in cacalotl the 
first quill is shorter than the seventh, the second and sixth equal, the third shorter than the 
'Since writing the preceding remarks I have had the opportunity of examining a skin of a raven from the coast ot New 
Jersey, belonging to Mr. Lawrence. This is not in high plumage, the feathers without much lustre, and the indications 
generally are that it is a young bird just attaining maturity. Under the circumstances a fair comparison cannot readily be 
made. The first primary appears to be longer in proportion to the others ; the primaries generally broader, and more acutely 
pointed at the end. 
June 28, 1858. 
71 b 
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