CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 279 
was remarkably like the chirp of a robin. Another of the common¬ 
est was a weak and rather complaining cry repeated several times. 
A sharply contrasting one was a pure, clear whistle of one note fol¬ 
lowed by a three-syllabled call something like ka-we-ah. The regular 
rallying cry was still different, a loud and striking two-syllabled ka 
wliee. 
At the Inn the birds spent a large part of their time storing food. 
Observers who are in the woods in winter should try to find if such 
stores are utilized. 
485a. P. o. griseus Ridgw. Gray Jay. 
Similar to the Oregon jay, but decidedly larger except for feet, and 
much grayer; back dark gray instead of brown, and under parts grayish 
white instead of brownish white. 
Distribution. — From British Columbia south to northern California east 
of the Coast and Cascade ranges. 
GENUS COKVUS. 
General Characters. — Wing 9 or 
more; long and pointed; tail much 
shorter than wing; bill compressed, 
much higher than broad ; nasal bris¬ 
tles about half as long as bill; feet 
stout. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Feathers of neck gray or white at base. 
2. Feathers of neck pure white at base . . . cryptoleucus, p. 280. 
2'. Feathers of neck dull gray at base. 
3. Bill larger, tarsus stouter. Washington . . principalis, p. 280. 
3'. Bill smaller, tarsus more slender.sinuatus, p. 279. 
1'. Feathers of neck not gray or white at base. 
2. Wing 10.05. Sitka to Oregon. caurinus, p. 282. 
2'. Wing 12.15.americanus, p. 281. 
486. Corvus corax sinuatus ( Wagl. ). American Raven. 
Black, entire plumage glossed with lustrous purplish, tinged with dull 
greenish on belly ; feathers of throat lanceolate, distinct from one another; 
feathers of neck dull gray at base; nasal tufts covering more than basal 
half of upper mandible. Length : 21.50-26.00, wing 15.10-18.00, tail 9-11, 
exposed culmen 2.40-3.05. 
Distribution. — Resident from upper border of arid Tropical to Alpine 
zone in the western United States from the Rocky Mountains to the 
Pacific coast, and from Canada to Guatemala. 
Nest. — Usually on cliffs, a mass of well-interlaced sticks lined w T ith 
cottonwood bark, moss, cattle hair, and wool. Eggs: 5 to 7, pea,green, 
olive, or drab, usually profusely spotted and blotched with shades of 
brown, lavender, and drab. 
Food. — Principally carrion, dead fish and frogs, varied with rodents, 
mussels, grasshoppers, large black crickets, and worms. 
Where tall, bare cliffs rise from the valleys anil deep, steep-walled 
canyons cut into the mountain ranges, the hoarse croaking of the 
