CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER. 
127 
first very large, the inner a little shorter than the outer, which is adherent 
at the base. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft 
and blended ; no distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible, wings 
long, much rounded, the first quill very short, the fourth longest ; tail of 
moderate length, rounded. 
I 
CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER. 
NuCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA, Wils. 
PLATE CCKXXY. — Male and Female. 
No sooner had I examined perfect specimens of this somewhat singularly 
coloured bird, than I felt assured, more especially from the form of its bill, 
that it is with us a representative of the Nutcracker of Europe ; and I was 
much surprised, on comparing it with the figure given of it by Alexander 
Wilson, to find the latter very defective, the bill being nearly half an inch 
shorter than in four specimens which I have inspected. All that is known 
of its habits is contained in the following notes from Mr. Nuttall and 
Mr. Townsend. 
“We first observed this species in a small pine grove, on the borders of 
Bear river, in the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, where they were pro- 
bably breeding, in the month of J uly . W e again saw a considerable flock 
of the young birds early in August, in a lofty ravine near the summit of one 
of the three belts or isolated mountains, about thirty or forty miles west of 
the Shoshonee river. They appeared somewhat shy, and scattered through 
a grove of aspens, flying with a slight chatter, scarcely a caw, from the tops 
of the bushes or trees, on to the ground, probably in quest of insect food. 
We never saw this species either on the lower plains or forests of the 
Columbia, or in any part of Upper California. It appears never to descend 
below the mountain plains.” T. N. 
“ Clarke’s Crow, Corvus columbianus. First found on Bear river, and 
afterwards on the Blue Mountains, plentiful. Its flight is very unlike that 
of the Common Crow, being performed by .jerks, like that of the Wood- 
pecker. When sitting, it is almost constantly screaming ; its voice is very 
