CROW. 
to facts. The varied suggestions of Palsearctic workers are scarcely worth 
consideration, as such have absolutely ignored all the field observations of the 
best Australian workers, and have given a confused and inaccurate survey of 
the facts. In connection with the present species, the perplexing feature is 
the lack of series and consequent confusion with the preceding on the north¬ 
west coast. As above stated, and it must be reiterated, these Palsearctic workers 
regard Australia as an island equivalent to one of the small Moluccan islets 
which are not marked on any save the largest-scale map. They confuse localities 
hundreds of miles apart, and biologically of little relationship, in their generalisa¬ 
tions, and often make inaccurate remarks, which, whether from absolute intent 
or simple carelessness, mislead workers without similar access to books and 
material. 
In the present case we may regard as the “ Crow ” the Northern species, 
and I must emphasize the fact that my synonymy has been carefully drawn 
up, hut is not by any means faultless through the confusion in nomination 
by workers at this end upon whom Australian field-workers are to a certain 
extent dependent. I am placing all the notes from the north and north-west 
under this name. 
Mr. Tom Carter has written: “ The North-western Crow is common 
through the Gascoyne and North-west Cape districts, but, as Corvus bennetti 
also occurs in the same locahties, it is difficult to be sure of the identity of the 
birds without actually handling them. I should say the larger species is the 
more numerous. The birds are mischievous and bold about homesteads and 
camps, but very wary when out in the open bush. The nests are usually built 
high up in trees, when possible, but when at any distance from watercourses, 
and trees are not present, the nests are built on bushes at elevations of sometimes 
ten feet or less. At Point Cloates there were no trees within thirty miles, and 
Crows’ nests were found on ledges of low sea cliffs, and in the forks of timbers 
supporting the levers used to draw up water from the shallow sand wells. That 
Crows will eject a piece of meat poisoned with strychnine I have personally 
observed on several occasions, some minutes after the meat was swallowed. 
When camped at the Yardie Creek in September, 1913, I shot some prettily 
marked Rock Wallabies for food, and had two of the skins pegged out to dry 
on the sand at my camp, but whenever I left, a stray Crow came and pulled 
the skins about. I then made a good-sized hollow in the sand and carefully 
and completely buried the skins under some inches of sand. On my return 
the Crow had pulled them both out on to the surface of the ground. (Do Crows 
smell ?) While travelling on mail coach north of Carnarvon in September, 
1911, I saw about ten nests of Crows built in fairly close proximity (all within 
300 yards) in dead branches of Snakewood and Jam trees from 10 to 15 feet 
409 
