CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS. 
159 
CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS. 
Fish Crow. 
Corvus ossifragus Wilson, Am. Orn., V; 1812, 27. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cii. Form, slender. Size, small. Feet, not stout. Tongue, somewhat fleshy, but thin and homy at tip which 
is bifid and provided with terminal cilia which extends along the sides, black in color. Sternum, not stout. Plumage, 
well blended. Middle toe and claw, longer than the tarsus. 
Color. Adult. Lustrous black throughout, with purplish reflections which are more noticeable on the back, wings, 
and tail. Bill and feet, black. 
Young of the year. Quite similar to the adult, but considerably duller, especially on the wings and tail which are in¬ 
clined to be brownish. 
Nestlings. Uniform, dull brownish-black beneath. The wings and tail are lustrous for the feathers are not moult¬ 
ed. Bill and feet, brown. Sexes, similar in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
As will be seen by the measurements, there is considerable variation in size in birds from the same locality, otherwise 
they are similar. Known from Americanus by the inferior size, brighter colors, blended plumage, small size of the feet, and 
shorter middle toe. Distributed in summer along the coast as far north as New Jersey, retreating southward in winter. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of forty-six specimens from Florida. Length, 15*75; stretch, 33*75; wing, 11*25; tail, 6*25; bill, 
1*65; tarsus, 1*75. Longest specimen, 21*00; greatest extent of wing, 43*75; longest wing, 14*00;*tail, 7*25; bill, 2*05; tar¬ 
sus, 2*05. Shortest specimen, 15*It); smallest extent of wing, 30*00; shortest wing, 9*75; tail, 5*50; bill, l*05;tarsus, 1*50. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees. They are bulky, compact structures composed of sticks, lined with coarse grass and sea-weed. 
Dimensions; external diameter, 18*00, internal, 10*00. External depth, 10*00, internal, 4*00. 
Eggs, from four to five in number, oval in form, varying from pale to dark-green in color, spotted and blotched with 
yellowish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from 1*40x1*05 to 1*50x1*15. 
HABITS. 
Just after dark on the fourth of December, 1876, the Yacht Nina was hove to, some 
miles at sea, off North Island, South Carolina. All day we had been sailing down the coast 
before a fine breeze, but now the wind was freshening and, as the dangerous Romain Shoals 
lay just in our course, we had decided that it was best to put into the Pedee River. The 
Ducks, Loons, and other sea birds had been flying towards land for the last few hours, 
great cumulus clouds were rolling across the darkening sky, the sea was rising fast, in fact 
everything indicated a coming gale. We were waiting for the moon to rise for, although 
the Georgetown Light sent its guiding rays to us, the passage across the bar was intricate 
and difficult to follow in the darkness. Soon the east brightened, and then the silvery disk 
came pushing upward, quickly illuminating the waves which were begining to toss Avildly 
under the influence of the rising wind. Giving one more look at the chart which I had 
been somewhat anxiously studying, I came on deck and we put our little vessel’s head on 
her course, steering directly toward the land. For an hour or more we dashed onward, 
until at last we could see the low, black line of coast. As we drew nearer, we could discern 
the white sandy beach shining in the pale moonlight, then the sound of breakers came to 
our ears but still we resolutely kept on for I knew that our only safety lay in this course. 
Suddenly, just as we seemed to be leaping into the now foaming breakers, we swung 
