REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 91 
Northern Raven ; Raven—( Corvus corax principalis). 
A somewhat rare, very large, crow-like, black bird, twice the size of the common 
crow. The black everywhere shows bluish, metallic reflections. The feathers 
of the throat are narrow, pointed and peculiarly independent of each other, not 
blended as is usually the case. When seen with crows, ravens can readily be 
recognized by the great difference in size, but when seen alone there is difficulty 
in distinguishing them, as the distance they are away is not easily determined. 
American Crow —(Corvus americanus). 
A very abundant, large, black bird, which is found in flocks everywhere, and 
can be recognized by its call notes of “caw-w, eaw-w.” The crow has few 
friends, and were it not for his remarkable ability to escape the gunner, would 
soon become extinct. In the winter the crows roost in immense colonies in 
particular placed; during the day they forage for food over a great extent of 
country, but at night all return to the regular place for rest. 
Breeds in eastern North America, except Florida and the Arctic regions. 
Winters mainly south of New England. 
Fish Crow —(Corvus ossifragus). 
Almost exactly like the last, but smaller. This is a brighter, cleaner, 
smoother-})lumaged bird, with more metallic-purplish reflections on the back and 
somewhat greenish ones below. 
Breeds on Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Winters about the same. Breeds regu¬ 
larly along the New Jersey coast, and seems to be partially resident. 
FAMILY ICTERILLE.—THE ORIOLES. 
Ten species of Icteridce are included in the avifauna of eastern 
New Jersey. Six of these breed generally throughout the State 
the grackle, red-winged blackbird, meadowlark, cowbird, orchard 
tmd Baltimore orioles, the first three being the most abundant. 
Three species are transient—the bobolink, which occurs mostly 
along the large river and coast marshes, and the bronzed grackle 
and rusty blackbird, neither of which is very common. The yel¬ 
low-headed blackbird is an accidental straggler. The meadowlark 
is resident in the southern parts of New Jersey, and the rusty 
blackbird, red-winged blackbird, cowbird and purple grackle 
occur irregularly during winter. 
Bobolink; Reedbird; Ricebird— (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). 
Male in spring. A common meadow blackbird, with white rump and 
shoulders; golden-brown on the back of the head, and acute-tipped tail 
feathers. Female (also male in the autumn) much like au olive-colored, 
