CLARK’S CROW. 
319 
I began to think that this might be its most permanent, or, at 
least, its summer or winter dress. 
The little information I have been able to procure of the 
species generally, or at what particular season these were 
shot, prevents me from being able to determine this matter to 
my wish. 
I can only learn, that they inhabit the extensive plains, or 
prairies, of the Missouri, between the Osage and Mandan 
nations ; building their nests in low bushes, and often among 
the grass. With us the Tanagers usually build on the branches 
of a hickory, or white oak sapling. These birds delight in 
various kinds of berries, with which those rich prairies are 
said to abound. 
CLARK’S CROW CORVUS COLUMBIANUS. 
Plate XX. Fig. 2. 
Peale's Museum , No. 1371. 
CORVUS COL UMBIANUS. - Wilson. 
Corvus Columbianus, JBonap. Synop. p. 56. 
This species resembles, a little, the Jackdaw of Europe 
( Corvus monedula;) but is remarkable for its formidable claws, 
which approach to those of the Falco genus ; and would seem 
to intimate that its food consists of living animals, for whose 
destruction these weapons must be necessary. In conversa- 
tion with different individuals of the party, I understood that 
this bird inhabits the shores of the Columbia, and the adjacent 
country, in great numbers, frequenting the rivers and sea-shore, 
probably feeding on fish ; and that it has all the gregarious 
and noisy habits of the European species, several of the party 
supposing it to be the same. The figure in the plate was 
drawn with particular care, after a minute examination and 
