118 
FISH CROW, 
FISH CROW CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS. 
Plate XXXVII. Fig. 2. 
Peale's Museum, No. 1369.. 
COR VUS OSSIFRAGUS. — Wilson.* 
Covvus ossifragus, Bonap. Synop. p. 67. 
This is another roving inhabitant of our sea-coasts, ponds* 
and river shores, though a much less distinguished one than 
the preceding, 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 approached, 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 com- 
mon Crow, more hoarse and guttural, uttered as if something- 
stuck in their throat, and varied 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 favourite haunts being about the 
* This is a very curious bird, first named and described by our author. 
It is one of the predacious species, with the nostrils clothed with feathers, and 
seems to feed nearly alone on fish or reptiles, doing almost no harm to 
the husbandman. In the latter circumstance, it resembles also our Carrion 
Crow, which often kills the common frog ; and last summer I observed one 
Hying with an adder in his bill. He had caught it on a detached piece of 
muir, and, on my approach, rose, taking the prey along with him, most probably 
before it was sufficiently despatched, as the writhings of the reptile caused him 
to alight several times at short distances, before being perfectly at ease. Being 
on horseback, I could not follow to see the end of the engagement. The 
species seems peculiar to the coast of North America, and does not extend 
very far northward. — Ed. 
