THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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Icterus bullocJcii .— (Bon.) 
Bullock’s Oriole. A few of these birds reach as far north as Colville, and I 
have met with some stragglers on the west side of the Cascades; but at Fort Balls 
they are very plentiful. They build in the scrub oak, and arrive about the 
beginning of May;—build a tightly woven hanging nest. I saw one large oak 
tree on the Shasta plains standing alone, not a bush or tree within miles of it, 
and this tree was taken possession of by a large number of these birds; and I 
should think at least fifty nests hung from different branches. The bright golden 
yellow and black plumage of these handsome birds contrasted prettily with the 
bright green leaves and brown jacket of this solitary tree in the wilderness. 
They assemble in small flocks after nesting, and take their departure in 
September. Specimens brought from Colville, the Dalis, and Sumass. 
Scolecophagus cyanocephalus .— (Cab.) 
Brewer’s Blackbird—Western Grackler. The only place I ever saw 
this bird was in the Colville valley, where they remain during the winter, frequenting 
the barn yards and corals of the settlers. I never succeeded in finding their nests. 
Corvus carnivorus .— (Bartram). 
American Raven. This bird is widely distributed, ranging from the coast 
along the Boundary line to the summit of the Rocky Mountains. They pair early 
in March, and although I have seen their nests on the top of a lofty pine tree, 
never succeeded in obtaining the eggs. A great many of them remained at our 
head-quarters at Colville during the last winter, although the temperature was often 
32° below zero, and deep snow everywhere. They were very bold and fearless, 
coming down among the dogs, and pitching close to the men when killing cattle. 
They remain during the winter in great numbers at Vancouver Island and along the 
sea coast. 
Picicorvus columbianus.—~(Boy.) 
Clarke’s Crow. I do not think this bird is found west of the Cascade 
Mountains, at least I never met with it, but is very abundant along the Boundary 
line, from the very summit of the eastern slope of the Cascades to the top of the 
Rocky Mountains, about 7000 ft. above the sea level. It feeds almost entirely on 
the seeds of the different pine trees, that of the Pinus ponderosa appears to be its. 
favourite food; it feeds like a chickadee, or crossbill, hanging head downwards 
from a cone or small branch and working out the seeds from the bracts. I do not 
think they ever eat animal food, for I have opened their stomachs at all periods of 
the year, and I never found the remains of insects or any kind of animal matter. 
They arrive at Colville about April in large flocks, and just hop about from branch 
to branch making the woods ring again with their cry, which is a harsh discordant 
scream rapidly repeated. 
Where they build I am at a loss to imagine, unless it be on the summit of the 
very lofty pine trees. I searched in vain for their nests, but never found one, 
I believe the long sharp powerful claw and foot is for clutching tightly whilst 
getting out the pine seeds. They leave again in September and October. 
Pica huclsonica .— (Bonap.) 
Magpie. Very common along the Boundary line from the coast to the summit 
of the Rocky Mountains. Although the cold was most severe, a few remained 
about the barracks at Colville during the winter. They are dreadfully destructive 
