202 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
“ Habitat . — Northern North America, from Greenland to Alaska, south to British 
Columbia, Canada, New Brunswick, etc.” — Ridgway. 
Of all the numerous birds found in Pennsylvania the Raven seems to 
be one of the most wily and difficult to secure. Although not abundant 
anywhere in this commonwealth, these birds are probably more fre- 
quently met with in portions of Sullivan, Elk, Centre, Cameron, Lycom- 
ing, Clinton and Clearfield counties than elsewhere. The nest of this 
bird, a bulky structure of sticks, bark, moss, etc., is said to be built in 
March or April, and is placed in trees or sometimes on rocky ledges. 
The following list and notes from different observers Avill give a very 
clear idea of the localities in our state where the Raven occurs regularly : 
COUNTT. 
OBSERVERS. 
Remarks. 
Allegheny. . . 
T. Z. Hazzard 
Straggler. 
Bradford, . . . 
J. L. Camp 
Resident in mountains; scarce. 
Do. ... 
J. W. Kitcham 
Resident; breeds sparingly. 
Berks 
D. F. Keller, 
Straggler; very rare. 
Columbia, . . . 
Dr. A. B. McCrea 
Resident.* 
Clinton 
Dr. W, Van Fleet 
Resident; breeds regularly. 
Clearfield, . . 
Dr. W. Van Fleet 
Resident; breeds regularly. 
Cameron, . . . 
M. M. Larrabee 
Resident; regular breeder. 
Do. ... 
Sylvester Belden 
Resident; regular breeder. 
Centre 
J. Preston Thomas 
Resident; tolerably common in mountains 
Elk. 
Chas. H. Eldon 
Resident. 
Erie, 
Geo. B. Sennett, 
Straggler. 
Do 
John W. Detwiller, M. D. , 
Saw one at Lake Erie in winter. 
Franklin, . . . 
H. B. Craig, 
A few reside in mountainous regions. 
Lycoming. . . . 
August Kock, 
Resident. 
Do. ... 
Chas. H. Eldon 
Resident. t 
Lackawanna, . 
G. P. Friant 
A few seen in recent years; probably resident. 
Potter, .... 
B. H. Warren, 
Resident; have seen them in summer and winter. 
Sullivan, . . . 
Otto Behr, 
Resident; regular breeder. 
Somerset, . . . 
Dr. H. D. Moore 
Very rare; probably breeds. 
Susquehanna, . 
Geo. B. Perry 
Resident; breeds regularly. 
Venango, . . . 
J. R. Robeitson 
Rare visitor. 
Westmoreland, 
Chas. H. Townsend 
Old residents report a “Crow" of very large size, as 
once common. It was doubtless the Raven. 
York 
Hon. G. C. Brown 
Rare visitor; probably breeds. 
Mr. J. H. Ferguson, of Renovo, Clinton county, says Ravens are to be found about 
nine miles south of Renovo, in the mountains. When deer are killed and eviscerated 
these birds come about to feed on the refuse matter ; generally seen in pairs, but 
sometimes several are together. It is a common custom for this bird to visit deserted 
camps ; soon as lumbermen or hunters have left their camps a Raven, or several of 
them, will be seen in the tops of tall trees, and shortly they will be observed near the 
smoldering embers of the dying fire, picking up the fragments of food. 
Corvus americanus Aud. 
American Crow. 
Description (Plate 57). 
Bill, legs and feet black ; iris brown ; plumage glossy black with violet reflec- 
tions, brightest on wing-coverts, tail and back ; top of head frequently without me- 
tallic tint — young usually dull black. The male is larger than the female, and meas- 
ures about 19 inches in length and 38 inches in extent. 
Habitat . — North America from the Fur countries to Mexico. 
* 1 have made diligent inquiry in relation to the Raven in the mountains of this and the adjoining county 
of Sullivan where they are comparatively common; they can be heard ' ‘ croaking" at almost any time, 
but, owing to their shy and retiring habits, they are hard to get. — McCrea. 
t Ravens breed regularly on high mountain ridges, in tops of tallest pine trees, in Elk county, on Dent's 
run, a branch of Benezett creek, which flows into the Susquehanna at Driftwood. In the last seven 
years 1 have received seven or eight Ravens from different parts of Centre. Elk and Lycoming counties. — 
Eldon. 
