304 
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 
well to consider these briefly ; and, first, it is to be remarked that nearly all the dif¬ 
ferences in habits and notes appear to apply as well to the crows found.q 
California, Oregon, and Washington Territory as to those of the regmn to the north, 
while, as has just been stated, it is only in the latter region that these are accompanied 
by a single salient character that will serve to identify the skins. . • n 
‘if habits be taken as the test, then all alike—those from the far interior of Oregon 
as well as from the coast, from California north ward—must be held to hecammus, 
although, as has been stated, a large proportion of specimens from Washington -terri¬ 
tory southward absolutely differ in no particular of form or color from others ro 
Eastern States# 
If, on the other hand, small size, as exemplified especially in the short tarsus, be 
held sufficient to characterize the race, then those only from north of Was lngton 
Territory are eligible to the name; and all from below, although sharing in the a ji s 
which have been held to distinguish caurinus, must be considered as americanus, not¬ 
withstanding, too, the additional fact that the measurements ot some tew ot the 
smallest of these latter approximate somewhat closely to Alaska specimens. 
It may be added that while observers agree in the general statement ot the pos¬ 
session by the so-called caurinus of peculiar habits, the accounts of each vai y as to the 
details, change of locality evidently producing a corresponding change in habits. 1 bus 
the domed nests, made of mud, which caurinus is said by Lord to build about Sitka, 
differ entirely from those found by Bendire in Oregon, and by Cooper in Cadifornia, 
which resembled the usual style of the common crow. Nor do the piscivorous habits of 
caurinus offer anything very distinctive, since they are shared by the common crow of 
Florida (var. floridanus), which there has many of the ways of the true fish crow {ossi¬ 
fragus). About Washington, too, the common crow and fish-crow go in associate bands, 
and their notes alone can be relied upon to identify them as they feed together alon<* 
the river. As further evidence of the varying habits of the crows, it may be stated 
that in this locality the fish crow in turn often abandons its usual littoral haunts for 
the plowed fields and pastures of the interior. In fact, with birds possessing the 
omnivorous taste of the crows it appears to be quite a matter of accident that deter¬ 
mines their hunting grounds, those where food is most abundant and readiest at hand 
being the favorite; hence, of course, its nature varies indefinitely with locality and 
circumstances. 
The alleged more pronounced gregarious habits of caurinus, even allowing all that 
is claimed, are probably but the result of exceptional conditions, and appear to be car¬ 
ried in the northwest but little farther than is observable in the common crow at the 
East. Even on the Pacific coast the habit of breeding in colonies is far from universal. 
When such colonies are formed they are as likely to be the result of necessity as of 
choice. As, for instance, when favorable breeding grounds are scarce, a more or less 
extensive colonization must necessarily follow, which is less marked when other con¬ 
ditions prevail. 
As to notes, this much may safely be stated, that some, at least, of the crows of the 
Pacific province have a note different from the usual one of americanus. As Dr. Cooper 
says, this “ differs rather in tone than in character.” In other words, it is the old-fash¬ 
ioned caw, but uttered in a different tone. In Southern California, near the coast, and 
in Oregon, east of the mountains, I have on many occasions heard this note, which has 
strongly suggested that of ossifragus, and which I then took for granted as belonging 
to caurinus. But in every such instance the well-known ringing caws of americanus 
were recognized from the same flock. 
Of six or eight individuals shot from these 
flocks all proved to be indistinguishable from americanus, and at the time I presumed 
the particular individuals of caurinus must have escaped me. Now, however, I feel 
tolerably well assured that all alike were americanus, the notes varying in individuals. 
Mr. Ridgway, on the other hand, informs me that in his experience in the Sacramento 
Valley, Nevada, &c., he never heard any but the common note of americanus. 
In conclusion, the general tenor of the change of habits of the Pacific crow, so far as 
any are to be noticed, is in the direction of the fish crow ( ossifragus), and by at least 
one author the two have been regarded as identical. But in the proportions of certain 
parts and in colors they are very distinct from ossifragus, which may readily and infal¬ 
libly be distinguished from the common crow from whatever locality by a number of 
well-defined characters. 
At present I deem it, on the whole, advisable to recognize a race of the common crow 
from the extreme northwest coast/from Puget Sound northward, assigning, as char¬ 
acters, small siz$ in general, and especially a short tarsus, at the same time admitting 
the possibility that a larger series from the region in question, together with additional 
data concerning habits, &c., may suffice to show its distinctness as a species. On the 
other hand, I am assured that no features are to be found attaching to the crows, either 
of the west coast or interior south of the above-mentioned point, that will warrant the 
maintenance of a name. They, at least, are americanus. 
A series of measurements is appended below to afford means of comparison of the 
crows of eastern and western United States. 
