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Boston
1379.
Jan. 24

Harbor, Mass.

Crows were very numerous upon some of the islands, sit
ting upon the points in company with the Gulls or feeding a
long the beaches. (Shooting party in a tug).

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Eastern Massachusetts.

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C o r vus ame r i c anus .

1892. Mass .

Sept. I . Concord .- As were skirting the eastern base of Holden's Hill £ TPF3 .

a large, broad-winged bird started from an oak and flew out over ESkfiJkELH
the meadow. I did not see it at first but C. who did, thought an Owl .

that it was an Owl. The question was quickly settled in the
affirmative by the Crows who the next moment began cawing franti-
cally and collecting from far and near to assail their hated
enemy. Judging by the sound ( for we could see nothing through
the dense foliage) the chase led first out over the Great Meadows 1
and then turned back. Finally it became evident that the Owl
had alighted in one of the trees at the southern base of the
hill. I advanced slowly and with great caution and presently
saw at least thirty Crows in the top of a tall chestnut. Some
were sitting quietly on the branches, others hopped or flitted
excitedly from branch to branch, while still others circled above
the top of the tree occasionally dashing madly down through the
foliage. Their cawing at times was almost deafening while at
others they would relapse into nearly or quite perfect silence.

The clamor usually started abruptly, (probably at some movement
on the part of the Owl ) lasted half a minute or more and then
gradually lessened. At its height it formed a perfect roar of
angry sounds which had little of the usual Crow quality remind-
ing me by turns of the hoarse barking of many large dogs or of
the shouting of men. At a distance it was strikingly like the
roaring sound of escaping steam. Although I scanned the trees

n

f

1892.
Sept. I.

Sept. 26

Oct.§* ,

Corvus ainericanus.

Mass .

Concord. - carefully with my glass I did not see the Owl until , C rows.

at length he flew from among the densest foliage in the very top .mobbing
Instantly the Crows followed-every one of them-silently for a jm Owl ,
second or two, then every throat poured forth cries of rage and
abuse. Doubtless every expletive Known to the Corvine vocabu-
lary was hurled after the big Bubo as he flapped off through the
trees. He did not go far this time-only to the crest of the ridge
in fact where I left him and his sable tormentors to their own
devices.

. Concord .- About 40 Crows were mobbing an Owl, doubtless a Bubo,
in the chestnut trees at Holden's Hill.

Concord.- Wright showed me in some Baldwin apples which had been £LE23¥&
attached by Crows he said. Each apple had a hole an inch or P.g.cXiBg

more in diameter peeked in the side to the core. In many cases awpl gsi
the hole extended through to the other side. The core with its
seeds seemed to have been removed in evet^ instance. Wright
thought that more than half the apples in one tree had been thus
treated. He has seen lagge number of Crows in the tree for
several days lately. He has never Known or heard of Crows
attaching apples before. These are still green or hard and un-
ripe.

I saw one floch of 29 Crows this morning flying S.W. low down

Corvus americanus.

1892. Mass .

Oct; 6. , Koncord.- and probably migrating. Tlie number of scattered

■

birds was about as usual.

Oct. 8. Concord .- Holden's meadow was alive with Crows walking about Si*

feeding. I counted fifty. They reminded me of the Rooks in
England. Every little while a few would rise and start off
southward cawing loudly as if calling on the others to follow
but all such attempts failed to start the main host to which
these adventurous pioneers invariably returned. One of them
however succeeded at length in raising great excitement by dis-
covering an Owl (doubtless the same Bubo which I have seen there
before this autumn) in Holden's woods and shouting the news in
Crow language to the feeding birds, "An Owl, an Owl^Wake up you
sleepy, murderous, yellow-eyed vilain, you mule eared knave, come
on, friends, and help me drive the thief from his stronghold.

Let us plick out his cat ears and gouge out his big eyes and
pummel and peck him to death." All this and much more to the
same purpose, if I understood the Crow rightly. He did not call
in vain for in a twinkling the sable horde left their repast and
came trooping to the woods y/here they clustered all over the tops
of the trees and shouted and cawed and swore as long as I was
in hearing.

Oct. 12. Concord.- At about II A. M. as we were passing Dakin's Hill an Im mense
'

enormous flock of Crows rose from Holden's meadow and circled f lo . c ^ of

Crow#

Corvus amerioanus.

1892. Mass .

Oct. 12. Concord .- about for several minutes finally returning to the Imnena*
woods and meadow and separating into smaller flocks. I counted flock
them roughly( or father tried to) and made out their number to be of
upwards of 200 birds, an unusually flairfee flock. The movement Crows ,
just mentioned was doubtless a "false start" for about an hour
later the whole body mounted to a height of at least a thousand
feet and went off due south. Their order of flight was not
loose and straggling as is uaually the case during migrationjbut
in a compact flock each individual of which had no more horizon-
tal space than was required for the free use of his wings.

There was a good deal of cawing in fact it was incessant-but the
combined clamor was less than one would expect from so many bird
It came to mv ears with perfect distinctness when the flock had
passed .bevond my vision although no obstacles intervened and the
air was free from haze. When the birds were rising and circling
over me I heard the cr-r-r-r and cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck calls
frequently (this rendering was noted on the spot).

I do not remember to have seen Crows migrate in this way
before. They usually fly in windy weather low down, and in
loose, scattered flocks. The size of this flock was also remark-
able.

■

20

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Cambridge

1893.

J an .10.

Mass.

This thicket (by the old Coolidge lane ), when I first
sighted it this morning, was simply black with Crows feasting
on the abundant privet berries. When they saw me and flew
others joined them from the fields beyond where there were
steaming manure heaps and full fifty of the big black birds
whirled and circled over the crest of the hill for a moment,
a fine sight. Most of the Crows just mentioned flew off

over the marshes at the first alarm but a few scattered among
the trees and evaded me by short flights. They 'were sur-
prisingly tame and twice I got within less than thirty yards
of one, once walking directly under the bird as he sat perched
on a dead branch. One or more of them repeated, at frequent
intervals, a rolling cry almost exactly like that of the Tree
Toad. Indeed had it been summer I should not have doubted
that the sound was made by a Tree Toad although it 'was a lit-

*

tie louder and stronger.

Corvus amer icanus .

Concord, Mass.

1393^ Yesterday I saw a flock of Crows, which I estimated to

Aus.lt • contain about thirty birds, at Ball's Ilill. They were there

again to-day and I counted them accurately; there were thirty-
eight. They were feeding on the recently cut meadow most of
the time. When flying they kept well bunched. They acted on
the whole like migrants from the north.

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1394.

| Oct .11
to

Nov. 21 .

Corvns araericanus .

Mass .

The hulk of the migrating Crows passed south this year
between the 14th and 27th of October during which period I
saw some very large flocks at Ball's Hill, their favorite re-
sort while pausing to rest and feed before pushing on their
journey. After the 27th this region was apparently frequented
by only the local birds which will pass the winter there.

Corvus amer icanus .

Concord,
1856.
Oct. 27.

Mass. Very tame.

On the way down river this morning I saw a large floch
of singularly tame Crows. There were upwards of a hundred of
them perched in the trees on both banhs between Barrett's Bar
and Hunt's Pond. They scarcely seemed to notice me and I
paddled past or under scores of them within thirty feet or
less. Others flying across the river passed directly over me
within a few yards. Wot one, so far as could mahe out, either
left its perch or changed its course because of my presence
but several birds cawed at me derisively. Evidently these
were northern birds fresh from some region where Crows are
not much molested by man. Some of them c Inched and once I

heard the "gobble".

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Corvus araericanus .

Concord, Mass.

Lake--' Ufcateage&r— Mai»e .

1897. During the latter half of the month the Crows in the re-

April. gion about Ball's Hill have been exceedingly loquacious, mak-
ing all the various sounds which I have heard from them in
former years and in addition a peculiar succession of low
whining and mewing cries which are quite new to me. At times
these cries resembled those of young kittens, at others of
children talking and laughing in low tones. I have heard them
very many times and in different places, always when the two
birds were together, once when a pair were engaged in copula-
tion (April 30th) in the top of a low pine on Davis's Hill.
Apparently, therefore, they are love notes. They are often
followed by a succession of husky caws .

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Concord,

1898.

- Oct. 21.

Nov.l .

Cambr idg
1899.
March .

Mass .

As I was returning from the Barrett farm shortly after
noon 1 heard Crows cawing and looking up saw a flock of fully
five hundred nearly over Ball's Hill and at fully the eleva-
tion at which Wild Geese ordinarily fly when on r/iigrat ion. The
Crows were coining from the N.E. and were evidently looking
for a place to alight or rather, as I felt assured by their
behavior, were heading towards a place where at least some of
them had often halted to rest and feed in former migrations.
After circling a few times they descended to the fields beyond
Benson's and behind Holden's Hill, where I heard them cawing
every now and then during the remainder of the afternoon. This
is the first migratory flock that I have seen here this au-
tumn.

The Crows that arrived yesterday from the north were here
through the forenoon - at least two hundred or more of them
were - flying about in detachments cawing noisily.

, Mass. March birds in the Garden.

Seen every few days, flying overhead or perched in the
lindens, usually in pairs, never more than three or four to-
gether, very noisy after the middle of the month. I am satis-
fied that these birds are the same individuals which visited
our place in January , arpd February and that they are also the

birds which creed in this neighborhood.

^rtrlA.

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Corvus ainer icanus .

Cambridge
1899.
November .

, i lass.

Prom one to four birds visited the garden every two or

A

three days through the month alighting either in the apple
trees or lindens. They have become so tame during the last
two or three years that I am often able to walk or stand di-
rectly beneath them when they are perched in the tops or up-
per branches of the trees.

I also saw a few Crows about Presh Pond during each of
my visits this month and on several occasions they allowed me
to drive past them within fifteen or twenty yards.

Corvus araericanus.

I ~6 J 'i i Pftc^)S),

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IC

Birds of Upper St, John,
JBatohelder.

56. Corvus americanus And. Crow— C ommon.

Bull, N, Q.O, 7, July, 1882, p.149

Birds -within Ten Miles of Point
de Monts, Gan, Comeau & Merriam

Corvus frugivorus. Crow. — A common summer resident, some-
times wintering. I have observed that the Crows here find much of their
food along the beach at low water.

Bua N, 0, 0, 7, Oct. Z 882 , p, 236

Records from Toronto. E, E. T. Seton.

Common Crow. Corvus americanus. — Three albinos of
this species were observed in the country east of Toronto, about
three years ago. One of these was secured and is now in the

possession of Mr. C. A. Hirschfelder. It is pure white. No
data.

Auk, 2. Oct., 1885. p.334 -

Last Dates Migratory Birds observed by
E. D. Wintle,Falll885, Montreal, Can.

Jtinr 21, Crow. .

&CC*JU.'<r*KLLy

O.&O. XI. Mar. 1886 . p. pb

Ornithological Trip to St, Bruno, P Q-
May 25. 1885 . E. D. Wmtle, Montreal.

Crow, plentiful.

O.&O. XI. May . 1686. p. '

An Ornithologist’ s Summer in Labrador
M. Abbott Frazar.

I Corvus americanus , American Crow. Not a

I I are bird along the whole coast, but does not
j remain to face the winter.

O.&O. XII. Mar. 1887. p.

Breeding Dates of Birds in Kings
County, N. S. Watson L. Bishop.

Crow (Corvus frugivorus). May 6, 7, 9, 13, 13,

26.

O.&O. XIII, Mar. 1888 p.45

Summer Bde. Regtigrouche Valley, N.B
July, *88. J. Brittain and P.CLx. Jr.

Corvus americanus. Crow. — L ocal.

Amk, VI. April, 1889. p .117

Birds of Magdalen islands.
Dr. L.B. Biehop.

34- Corvus americanus. American Crow.— Abundant, breeding on
all the islands, and showing little fear of man. A set of four fresh eggs
was taken on Grindstone, June 22, within fifteen yards of a barn.

Aak, VI. April, 1889. p. 147

Summer Birds of Bras D’Or Region
Cape Breton Id, , N. S. J. Dwight, Jr.

29. C. americanus.

^ t'lvxiA

Attlt, 4, Jan. , 1887. p.10

SdEiiner Birds of Sudbury, Out.

0 A.E.Alberfif«r 4

| l; ,488. Crow". Common. Breeds.

* ' 0,&0» XV. JBCe.1890. P'87

Notes- Birds of Grand Manan,
Ohas. H. Andros.

Crow, Corvus americanus. We found this
species fairly common for so limited an area,
and not so confined to secluded districts as the
preceding. Like their congeners of Massachu-
setts they seemed to prefer sharing this life’s
goods with the farmer from whom they do not
hesitate to purloin. Two nests examined on
the island ot Nantucket were placed within a
few yards of each other in low firs, about
eight to ten feet up. One of these nests showed
signs of previous visitors from the yolks and
shells scattered promisucously on the ground
beneath. In composition they showed no vari-
ation from those of which I had “barked” forty

foot oaks earlier in the season.

0.& O. XII, Sept. 1387

P.151

A One-legged Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos).— On May 6 of last year,
while out in the woods with a friend, he shot a crow out of a tall, slender
spruce tree. When we picked it up, we were astonished to find one foot
entirely missing, and it certainly was not a mutilation that had lately
occurred, for the end of the stump of the tarsus was completely healed
and well worn, as though it had always been in this condition. About an
inch of the tarsus was there. It was a male bird, in good plumage and
condition ; the stomach was filled with food, mostly earth worms. We
were afterwards told by a person living near by, that he had observed a
crow the previous summer that had a very queer way of hopping about
on the fields while feeding. — C. W. G. Eifrig, Ottawa , Out.

Auk, XXII, July, 1905, p. 3/Z- 3' 3.

(rw-ci . O

I— I l/W V £ iTcc/vAL-Cio- 1) St) '

U Oja, XX///, Of', ^

Corvus brachyrhynchos. American Crow. — In 1881 Mr.
Brewster 1 was impressed with the familiarity of the Crow with
man in these regions, owing to the fact that, as no corn is planted,
there is no cause for dispute. Along the roads, in farm yards and
even in remote places at Cape Breton one may walk within a short
distance of crows. At Grand Narrows I was interested in watching
a crow on a fence within 20 yards of me pick a chicken bone. He
held the bone with his foot during the process but flew off with it
in his bill. It is common for crows to alight on buildings, and I
once saw four together on the roof of a small outhouse at Ingonish.
In eastern Massachusetts such familiarity would be very surpris-
ing. '' /•Vrc. Jn«. L*>, tfn t-, |/W. XW/i /g9j, /» .

Some- Winter Blurt of • ov^a Ccotia. |3y C, H. Morrell.

!5- Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Common all winter.

Auk, XVI, July, 1899, p. %$'Z.

3<F

CLoc</^ yu*+***<p /

*jUh- c . /\f^M^J^~ _«. $* / dt'f)( Xiy ./ 407,

34. Corvus brachyrhynchos. American Crow. — Abundant.

<£U*eCa Tfe Cou^M.d.6

hK

(^ocaJ\~ ( It

x t v, ^t>ov'f/ <1 7 %>

!» /\/-« r

rhs~</ a&J* .

179. Corvus brachyrhynchos. American Crow. — Abundant resident
except in winter; they usually disappear in November and reappear early
in February, a few only remaining through the winter. Breeds (April
16 to May 24).

Birds of DeadBiver Begion, Me. F. H, O.

59. Corvusfrugivorus, (Common Crow). Nested
i in the small hardwood forests of the valley of the
Cairibossett river. In autumn and late summer
i they assembled in immense flocks on the cleared
fields, often keeping company witli a flock of
sheep for a whole day. None were observed in
the interior of the evergreen forests.

O.&O. XI. Nov. 1886. p. 101

Summer Birds Tim Pond Me. by F. H. C.

Common Crow, {Gorvus fvugiwvus). This spe-
cies was “conspicuous by its absence” about the
lakes, while in the clearings at Eustis I saw it in
flocks.

O.&O. XI. Feb. 1886. p.^

Fall Birds of Northern Maine.

F. H, Carpenter.

American Crow ( Corvus americanus) . A very
, few seen while in the woods.

o &0. Xri.Nov. 1887 p.188

SnmmerResidents on South-vest
Qoaat of M aiae. T. H, Montgomery. J r.

|

488. American Crow. Common. I ob- '
tained one abnormally small $, which I
took at first to be C. ossifrayus.

%fov,1890 t p,W2

— ~ — "7 — 7 * '

3 { / k

Obyv+<AsC<

i <*< t j ^

Profile House, N. H. Aug. 1865.*

Rye Beach, N. H. 3uly 23-24 3885,

jt,tf , -

jfcc

"Winter Birds of Webster, N.H. by Falco.

Common Crow, (Comma frugieorus).

O.&O. X. Jan- 1885. T/y

Bummer Birds of PreaidentialRange,

White Mts, A.P, Chadbourne

17. Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Not seen in 1SS4, except
about the base, where it was common. Two were seen at an altitude of 2650
feet, on July 7, 1886, near which it is not improbable that they breed ; but
two others seen on the bare rocks at an altitude of 535c feet had evidently
flown up from below.

Aflk* 4, Afril 1187. p.104

Bds. Obs. in Franconia, N.H. Juneli-21
’80, and June4-Aug. 1/87, W. Faxon

24. Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Common.

Auk, V. April, 1888. p.151

v

Bds, Obs. atFranconia and Bethlehem
N. H. July- August, 1874, W~. Faxon.

(J -CL- (XtA-tsns-

16. Corvus americanus. Abundant.

Auk, V. April, 1888. p.154

Birds Obsvd. near Holderness, N.H
June 4-12, ’85, and 4-11, '86, W. Faxon

20. Corvus americanus. Crow. — A bundant.

Auk, V. April, 1888. p.150

r VUnU. ( 71 , H . .

Three Crga|_ have kept us company all winter,

but seem more like dark spectres, they have
been so silent, while last winter they were
noisy^X

Ocu^a (9. X til . /gt T. jo. /OS'.

BirA* Obe. at Msultonboro, N. H.
Jrayai-Aug. 11, 1883. F.H, Allen

Corvus americanus. — Quite common.

Auk, VI. J&b. , 1889. p. 78

Birds Obs. at Bridge-water, N.H.
July 12 - 8®pt. 4, 1883. F.H. Allen

Corvus americanus. — Quite common.

Auk, VI. Jam > 188B.P.77

Bird Notes, Central N.H. Winter *91-92
J. H. Johnson

Crows have strayed all winter.

0.&G.Vol,17,May 1882 p. 72

Birds of Hillsboro Co. N.H. June 27/92
Arthur M. Farmer, Amoskeag, N . H,

I Crow, common.

O.AOVol.17, Sept. 1892 p.136

Breezy Point, Warren, N.H.

^k.

1894.

/ 7 - It'- /f r *•-'

iy£ Z.7& Z

1895.

Breezy Point, Warren, N.H.

£ 'll / »."v ttv^VvXav' •

J 7 ~

rj k yw ofy^- rL X ^ ^ tfv/ /

(5uj-.

«j-A^Lu " vva ^

,

^ OJ( 7 ' y ^

4 \/ V -~, <?- 1 ^ ^ '* •

Summer Bds.Mt. Mansfield, Vt.

29. Corvus americanus. American Crow. Common,
by Arthur H. Howell. Auk, XVIII, Oct., 1901, p, 3^Z..

O.&O. X. Apr. 1885. pAi

II)

/ js j 6,

•* w / //, /J // . Re*.. 3! TO. Mass. 1884.

^4.

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^neitcm & ^°' RutIand ’^ a ^- 13-188(?f

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/ Jq^ .

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Mass, {near Cambridge).

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1887

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(near Concord )■

1888

APR 5“7-%2' r

hcM^ Cu^O-X Wellesley, Mass.

S. “W. Denton.

Afrzss. {near Cambridge).

mt

6Lg.z3$_ ic-.iy'* 3 0 a~

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Deoreaseof Birds in Mass. J. A. Allen

7i C €

vSU*. t-\A^€/C

Bull. N.O.O. I. Sept, 1870. p. 6 */ ,

Birds of Bristol County , Mass.
F.W. Andros.

' Conus americanus (Aud.), American Ciow
Resident, common. Breeds.

O.&O. XII. Sept. 1887 P.140

Winchendon, Mass. JuneA 888 .

' If* ji

Great Id/ Mass. Dec. 1888. * ,/wa . . 4 -

. *svt*u >o ■— . it

Falmouth, Mass. ?88©y ; ^_. 3o

Birds Known to Pass Breeding Season
nr. Winohendon, Maes. Wm. Brewster

28. Corvus americanus.

Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. p. 389

Bds. Qbs. near Sheffield. Berkshire
Or, Mila. June 17 - 26 , '88. W. Faxon

22. Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Common.

Auk, VI. Jan., 1880. p. 44

Bda. Obs. near Oraylock Mt. Berkshire
Oo. Mass. June 2b" Jury 10. W. Faxon

21. Corvus americanus. American Crow— Very common.*

Auk, Yl. Afffil, 188©. p. 100

* Corvus corax was recorded from Williamstown in 1S77 by Professor Sanborn Ten-
ney (Amer. Nat., XI, 243, 1877; cf Brewster, Auk, I, 10, foot-note, 1884). Tradition
points to a cliff on the eastern side of Ragged Mountain in Adams as an old breeding
•place of the Raven. This cliff is still known in the neighborhood as the ‘ Raven

V/. Middlesex Co. Maas.

June 25-30, 1889.

West Townsend, Ashby, Mt. Watati c Common and gener-

ally distributed.

/Jjjr.

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f ~

OTla^L .

f. __ A n at 1 MAime dn !\/T *

The Case of a Crow and a Ruffed Grouse.— On May 12, 1912, while
automobiling through Stoughton, Mass., Mr. Charles A. Coolidge suddenly
came upon a Crow flying slowly across the road with a heavy burden. In
its efforts to escape, the Crow dropped its booty, which proved to be a dead
Ruffed Grouse, still warm as in life.

My examination elicited the following facts: An adult female Ruffed
Grouse, weighing one and a quarter pounds; abdomen entirely bare as in
incubation; feathers back of right ear and below left eye stained with
blood; eyes intact; many feathers on the right side of the neck and some
on the left side, including the whole of the neck-tuft on that side, missing.
An effusion of blood the size of a silver dollar in the muscles of the right
breast, and a few small subcutaneous ones on both breasts; an irregular
rent in the skin a quarter of an inch long behind the right ear, and much
clotted blood there and around the exterior of the base of skull and neck,
a slight tear in the skin below the left eye. The skull was not injured and
the brain was intact. There were no signs of gun-shot injury.

The ovary was full of small eggs, none larger than a number six shot.
The crop was stuffed with the young leaves and flower buds of the apple,
and the stomach was filled with the semi-digested remains of the same.
The bird was plump and in good condition, and showed no signs of disease.

The interpretation of these post-mortem findings and of the observed
history is a matter for conjecture and the following theories are offered .

(1) That the Crow flying close to the ground in open woods perceived
the incubating Grouse, who, trusting to her protective coloration, remained
immobile on her nest, and received her death blow behind the right ear.

(2) That the Crow in attempting to steal the chicks of the Grouse was
set upon by the irate mother with the disastrous results observed.

(3) That the Crow attacked the Grouse while busily engaged in budding
the apple tree, and that the stunned bird fell to the ground where a few
more blows finished it.

(4) That the Grouse was killed by a hawk, was abandoned and at once
seized by the Crow.

(5) That the Grouse killed itself by flying against some obstacle, and
that its dead body was at once taken by the Crow .

The fall of the Grouse to the ground before life was entirely extinct,
which might have happened according to theory 3, 4 and 5 would account
for the contusion and hemorrhage of the breast. This hemorrhage
would not have occurred when the Crow dropped the dead body into the
road. It hardly seems probable that a hawk would have abandoned such a
rich booty, or that it would not have left marks of its talons. In the case
of an obstacle one would expect to find hemorrhage over or under the
front of the skull. By exclusion therefore, theory number 3 seems to be
the most probable one.

In whatever way the tragedy occurred it is certainly surprising that a
Crow should have succeeded in flying with such a heavy burden as a Ruffed
Grouse, and on this account alone, if for no other, the case is worth putting
on record — Charles W. Townsend, M. D., Boston, Mass.

tLitib VV . i. U \V IN bJIiJNUj IVJ.. A-/., uvowivj

c4aXxX/X.C^*

An Unusual Observation on the Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) at
Lubec, Maine. — I have seen non-raptorial birds of various species attack
other birds in self defense, or in defense of their nests and young, but
today (December 31, 1913) while on a tour of the local places where
birds are to be found in winter, I made an observation new to me,
and while actually interesting and thrilling, it was exasperating and dis-
appointing. While walking along a stretch of sandy beach with a com-
panion we suddenly flushed a belated shore bird, without having time to
bring our glasses to bear upon it; from the shape of its wing, mode of flight
and general coloration we were quite sure that it was a Sanderling. The
bird took a course directly ahead of us, and along the water’s edge; so we
followed hoping to positively identify it.

Three hundred yards in advance of us, sitting on the beach was a flock
of about two hundred Crows quietly basking in the sun. As soon as our
bird drew near them it swerved out over the water, when one of the Crows
rose and flew directly at it. —

The smaller bird dodged repeated attacks and was drawing ahead, when
another Crow at the farther end of the flock, seeing the escape flew out to
intercept it and turned the Sanderling (?) back, giving the first assailant an
opportunity to swoop down and deliver a telling blow with its wing. The
smaller bird fell, but recovered itself before touching the water. Then
to avoid its two assailants it was obliged to fly towards the land and directly
over the large flock of Crows, when about twenty of their number rose in a
bunch and bore the unfortunate to the beach, all endeavoring to get at it
at the same time. As soon as we discovered the little fellow’s real danger,
we ran and shouted, but they did not heed us until close upon them, when
they flew off leaving nothing but a small piece of breast with feathers
attached, the body being carried away.

We followed them up from one place of alighting to another hoping to
find a wing or some part of the body but without success. — Clarence H.
Clark, Lubec, Maine. XX.XI. /?/</•

Crows Destroying Quail. — According to my observation during the
last twenty years, crows destroy tremendous numbers of the eggs and
nestlings of our useful songbirds. In fact, in my opinion, this destruction
more than offsets what good they do in destroying injurious insects or
vermin. I had never, however, until this past winter heard of Crows
destroying Quail ( Colinus virginianus virginianus), except when young,
but a neighbor living near my place at Flowerfield, Suffolk County, Long
Island, has reported that late last winter when there was a considerable
fall of snow which covered the ground for ten days or two weeks, a flock
of thirteen quail which wintered on his premises were all killed by crows.
He frequently saw a considerable number of Crows following the bevy of
quail, harassing them and tiring them out, and finally killing and eating
them. — John Lewis Childs, Floral Park, N. Y.

4^1 XXX n/. e*t /?

’onnooticut, June, 1893*

ie ^f.

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Birds observed in Naval Hospital
Grounds. Brooklyn, G.H.Oouaa

50. Corvus americanus. Crow. — Seen occasionally.

Bull N. O.C. 4,Jan.. 1879, p.32

Birds of the Adirondack Region.
C.B.Mei-riajn,

86. Corvus frugivorus, Bartram. Common Crow. — Common sum
mer resident, remaining, in spots, during some of the mild winters.

Bali. N.Q.Q, U.Qct, 1881, p, 231

Note prom Canandaigua, N. Y. We liad very deep
snow and intense cold weather throughout the month of
January, still the C ommon Crow s were more abundant than
I have ever known them to be in previous Winters.

(0. +(£>■/*. M-a*.. /S'sy./t-jc.

7\Tr»+.«« .fthftltftr TKlfl.nH "NT "y.

^ fceJkr hotels Qrows have been abundant, and I have
noticed that when they were seen, passing southward in
nocks, we almost invariably had a storm from the direction

Qrow^ have been abundant, and I have
when they were seen, passing southward in

they were leaving. Can their movements be utilised as a

Can their movements be utilised as a

warning of approaching storms ?

O.&O. X. May. 1885. p.^

iiioo. ijiaaaeaeSoc. of jj/y, qq.qq

On favorable days in October there would be large flights" of Crows
( Corpus americanus ) winging their way south to a more congenial

AtSk, & < Apr, 188© , p. 202

Crow. Tolerably common.

E. A. Stsrling, Brooklyn, Pa.

Auk, XIX, July, 1902, p.298.

Among some interesting specimens, I may men-
tion a young Crow, pure white when taken from the nest.

Buii, N.o.c, 5. Jan.. le e0i p_ 2 g

Albino Crow. — J. M. W. reports seeing
an Albino Crow at Norwich. Ct.. with
brown or drab body and both 'wings w!ntI 882 ' P - ,YI

A White Crow ( Corvus frugivorus ). — I have to thank M. Dionne for
generously granting me permission to announce the addition of an albino
Crow to the Museum of Laval University of which he is in charge. The
specimen was taken near the city of Quebec. — Montague Chamberlain,

St. John, N. B. Auk, 2, Jan. , 1885. p. /0 7 -

Y Another wllite CJM lias been taken the past
j season, near Lexington, Mass.

QtSsO, 15. Nov, I860, p, /76

Brief Notes.

I also heard of an Albino Crow seen at
Monson, Mass. C. K. Reed.

0 .& O. Vol, 18, May. 1863 p.78

A Few Bird Notes.

w p. Coues while collect in
''w a crovv with large white
y nrost of the priiwerels,

at Sydney, C. B., Aug.
on each wing,

spots

covering i

O.&O. XIV. N v. 1809 p.!76

X

HENRY HALES, RIDGEWOOD. N.

While visiting a friend at Guilford, Conn.,
last winter, I called on Capt. O. N. Brooks, the
veteran of Faulkner’s Island Lighthouse, and
an Ornithologist, who showed me a singularly
Jlored Crowj hat was shot a few miles east of

do think it can be called an albino, as it had
t a particle of white, or even black in its plu-

^ ^ . * , , £ f a * •

6. Corvus americanus, Audubon. Common Crow. — There is a
peculiarity of the plumage of the Crow, which I have noticed in a num-
ber of specimens shot during the breeding season, in May. All specimens
shot at this season do not exhibit this peculiarity, and some show it in
a more marked degree than others. These specimens are characterized by
the entire absence of the violet gloss on the wings and tail, those parts
being of a lustreless, purplish-brown color. Some specimens have the
concealed bases of the feathers of a fine, violet-glossed black, and the
residue of a rich bronze hue.

My attention was first attracted to this state of plumage by two birds
which I shot in the very act of devouring the eggs of the Night Herons,
in the heronry on Constitution Island, in the Hudson River, on the 23d
of May, 1877. These birds were extreme examples. This condition of
plumage may not be limited to the breeding season, for I have a specimen
shot in winter, which has one of the rectrices of a rich, purplish bronze-
color ; hut I found this plumage prevailing in the greater number of speci-
mens shot during the last week in May.

BuIi.NiO.0. 3, April, 1878, p. r/.

ige; the bill and legs were black. The color
its whole body was a rich drab, with pinkish
purplish tinge, lighter on breast, the deepest
ides on upper back and shoulders were
?htly more slaty. There were two of these
;ws seen together in company with other
ws all through the fall, but could not be ap-
aehed within gunshot till hard weather set
when one was procured; the other was
ched for a long time after, but could not
cached. Q.&O. XIII. Apr. 1888 p. 56.

Srz

Auk, XV, April, 1898, p u 1 16.

(Ms^uE~ir(Lr-£ < c cJl OCe.<U-*-^j\^t^a^A

American Crow (Corvus americanus). — An albinistic Crow was
Mled near Halifax on October 6, 1896. Its general colour was brown,
daikei on the throat, cheeks and belly; scapulars and feathers of back
margined obscurely with whitish; primaries mostly whitish ; tertials
white ; tail-feathers light reddish brown margined with whitish on outer
edg-e; legs, bill and iris, brown.

h~o*aa-^-j P ,

MASS. ( Middlesex So.)

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Brief Notes.

I would like to know what is supposed to
be the earliest breeding date of the Crow in
New England? I took a set of six on April 17tli
that had been set on four or five days.

A. M. Farmer.

0 *0 Vol.17, July, 1892 p. 110

_ . Finds. — s.

April 12, Crow, 5 eggs.

Carl Fritz- Henning.

Boone, Iowa.

O.&O.V 0 LI 8 , June, 1893 p,94

Lath Nesting of the Chow . — On Septem-
ber 10th, a Crow's nest was found here which
contained three fresh eggs. Same nest was
used in the spring, possibly by the same
l>irds(?). < s - If- Ingersoll.

Ball ston Spa. X.Y.

O.&'O. XV, Apr. 1890 p

On May 10 he took his first nest of the
season, the domicile of that much maligned
and wily bird the Common Crow, Corpus
frugivorus, and had to climb some forty
feet up a spruce tree for it. The structure
was composed exteriorly of cedar twigs
and lined with moss. It contained five
fresh eggs.

Sd . . yy . . YY\ . — —

0 aLiu

£+<£>. vji_ \%SX- 1 * 2 - ■

Common Crow.— April 21, 1882, I took
my largest set of seven eggs. Have taken
several sets of six. Q»&0. VII. Nov. 1882. p, /

Crow, 6 ;

Cls. frfr- (fro

O.&O. Vlll. Oct. 1888 . n .7*

Eight Eggs of the Crow in one Nest.

On May 13, 1888, while collecting in a swamp,
I flushed a crow from a nest in a small cedar,
j and on climbing the tree was somewhat sur-
prised to find eight eggs awaiting me. While
preparing them for the cabinet, I found them
to be in various stages of incubation, and the
shells of some very thin. I look upon this set
as rather an exception, never having found
more than six eggs in a nest before. B.

O.&O. XIV. Apr. 1889 p.56

Birds Tioga 00,-2?, Y.^-^Meaioring

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282. Common Crow. ^Common. Some of
them stay with us the entire year but the ma-
jority migrate. They inhabit the dense woods
and build about the first of May. The nest is
placed on a horizontal limb, but generally in
the crotch of a pine or spruce tree. I have
found them as near the ground as fifteen or
twenty feet. The eggs are usually four in
number; their color is a light green covered
with blotches and spots of different shades of
brown. They vary greatly in size; a set of
four in my collection measure 1 5-8 in. by 1 1-8
in., 1 3-4 in. by 1 1-8 in., 1 3-4 in. by 1 1-8 in.,
1 5-8 in. by 1 1-8 in. The food of these birds
consists of larvse, small young birds and eggs.
During the winter the pangs of hunger press
them to the outskirts of the towns and villages.

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282. Common Crow. ' Common. Some of
them stay with us the entire year but the ma-
jority migrate. They inhabit the dense woods
and build about the first of May. The nest is
placed on a horizontal limb, but generally in
the crotch of a pine or spruce tree. I have
J found them as near the ground as fifteen or
twenty feet. The eggs are usually four in
number; their color is a light green covered
with blotches and spots of different shades of
brown. They vary greatly in size; a set of
four in my collection measure 1 5-8 in. by 1 1-8
in., 1 3-4 in. by 1 1-8 in., 1 3-4 in. by 1 1-8 in.,
1 5-8 in. by 1 1-8 in. The food of these birds
consists of larvas, small young birds and eggs.
During the winter the pangs of hunger press
them to the outskirts of the towns and villages.

i

XY. p>84

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APR 25 1888

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Curious Nest and Eggs of a Crow.

7

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BY FRANK L. BURNS, BERWYN, PA.

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On the afternoon of the 29th of May, 1887,
while walking through the woods between
Berwyn and Devon, and not far from a small
sheet of water known as “ Devon Lake,” five
or six crows flew directly over my head, making
an incessant clatter. And soon, while ap-
proaching a thicket of green briers, saplings,
etc., a female crow flew out and up. In a small
beech tree, about twelve feet up, and far out on

a slender branch, I espied a frail looking nest,
very much like that of a Cuckoo’s, only larger.
Climbing up, and carefully working my way
out, with the aid of several higher limbs, I
reached the nest. Three young— just hatched—
and two eggs were the contents. The nest was
^ nothing but a platform of twigs, no lining be-
{3 ing visible. The eggs were of the usual size,
of a light blue color, and spotless; in fact the
same shade as those of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
^ Under the tree I found six half-shells, which
CC corresponded with those in the nest in size and
color.

■0 I believe this to be the second, possibly the
\ third set of eggs deposited by this bird this
season. The former nest, or nests, having
r probably been disturbed, and the eggs taken by
"^o some of our enterprising collectors.

C

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Curious Nest and Eggs of a Crow.

7

h~. * u “ /U '/ ^ — *

BY FRANK L. BURNS, BERWYN, PA.

out.

zk~. £ 7 . 7

?L

On the afternoon of the 29th of May, 1887,
while walking through the woods between
Berwyn and Devon, and not far from a small
sheet of water known as “Devon Lake,” five
or six crows flew directly over my head, making
an incessant clatter. And soon, while ap-
proaching a thicket of green briers, saplings,
etc., a female crow flew out and up. In a small
beech tree, about twelve feet up, and far out on

a slender branch, I espied a frail looking nest,
very much like that of a Cuckoo’s, only larger.
Climbing up, and carefully working my way
. out, with the aid of several higher limbs, I
& reached the nest. Three young— just hatched—
P and two eggs were the contents. The nest was
^ nothing but a platform of twigs, no lining be-
H ing visible. The eggs were of the usual size,
n of a light blue color, and spotless; in fact the
g. same shade as those of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
’ Under the tree I found six half-shells, which
03 corresponded with those in the nest in size and
*3 color.

>0 I believe this to be the second, possibly the
\ third set of eggs deposited by this bird this
season. The former nest, or nests, having
probably been disturbed, and the eggs taken by
"ip gome of our enterprising collectors.

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C rows and Jays. — J. M. W., while out in
the woods at Norwich,
eating- a nest of Javs eggs. T^og eat doe 1 .

Qi/tryr*' ,

A tame crow died in this city lately which de-
serves an obituary of a word for its linguistic
power. When called home from a neighbor’s
yard, it would say “ I won’t ! ” When told not
to run away, it would answer, “I will!” More
distinctly than most Parrots and Cockatoos, I
have heard it repeat twelve or thirteen words,
though its vocabulary was said to be much larger.

O.&o. X.May.l833.p.7^

Then we struck across an opening to the
wood on the other side, and soon saw a Crow
sitting hard on her nest in a tall chestnut.

We rapped on the tree for her to get off but ^
she did not respond, so I shot one barrel of my ^ ^
gun about a foot from the nest; but this did _ cj,'
not seem to wake her up. My companion (wlio'K b
by the way was rather near-sighted) declared
there was no bird on the nest, so to convince ^ ■A
him I shot the other barrel into the nest and^ 5 ^
this moved her and as she flew my companion ^ 5*
dropped her, but as the eggs arc so common ^ §
and the tree a hard one to climb we did not
get the eggs.

NS

Bds. Obs. at Little and Great Gull r e -
lande, N.Y. Aug. ’88 B. H. Dutch, r.

14. Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Four unlucky Crows
some time in the spring before the Terns arrived, decided to take up their
residence on Great Gull Island. By what motives they were actuated I
do not know. It might have been that they came in search of food, or they
might have been seeking solitude. If the first conjecture be true they must
have gotten plenty of that that they sought; for the island was well
stocked with the eggs and young of the Terns. If the last conjecture be
true they were sadly disappointed, for no sooner had the Terns arrived
than they fell on the Crows and persecuted them relentlessly until we put
an end to their misery. Leave the island they could not, for did one at-
tempt to rise a horde ofTerns was at him almost before he had risen above
the grass, and screaming, diving, and dashing at the unfortunate bird,
would soon drive him back to the earth again, and then, as if not content
with that, would continue to worry him long after he had settled down.
The Crows were in a sorry plight indeed, for the Terns, not satisfied with
worrying their victims at a distance, even went so far as to peck out the
poor birds’ feathers ; and between the exuviae that the Terns had dropped
upon them, and the light patches where the feathers had been picked out,
the Crows presented a rather mottled appearance. From the upper
mandible of one Crow a piece of the sheath and bone, half an inch long
and an eighth deep, had been gouged out. undoubtedly by the lower
mandible of a Tern. This incessant persecution had rendered the Crows
so tame that we could always approach to within twenty-five feet of them
before they would fly. And Chas. B. Field told me that on one occasion
he caught one in his hand, the bird preferring rather to be caught by the
man than to be chased by the Terns.

Auk. VI. April, 1889. P.

Intelligence of a Crow. — A tame Crow ( Corvus americanus) in my
possession lias repeatedly amused me by the novel method he adopts to
rid himself of parasites. For this purpose he deliberately takes his stand
upon an ant-mound, and permits the ants to crawl over him and carry
away the troublesome vermin. The operation seems mutually agreeable
to all parties, the ants quickly seizing upon the parasites and hearing them
away. I have also noticed the same habit in another tame Crow that I
formerly had in my possession. — Abbott M. Frazar.

Bull. N, 0,0, I t Sept, 1876, e . 74.

Another Abnormal Bill. — The character of the malformed bill sub-
mitted by Mr. B. S. Bowdish in the last number of * The Auk’ seems a
common type in abnormalities of that kind. I have in my possession
the head of a Crow ( Corvus americanus) afflicted with the same kind of
malformation. In this case, however, the upper mandible is bent com-
pletely down and around so as to point over the bird’s shoulder. The
lower mandible is not so greatly elongated as in Mr. Bowdish’s speci-
men, however, but the notches he speaks of where the mandibles cross

Malformed Bill of Crow ( Corvus americanus). Nat. size.

are very deep. There is no sign of injury to account for the peculiar
growth.

It raises an interesting conjecture in regard to the winter and early
spring food supply of these birds. It was killed early in March near
Port Huron, Mich., 1901, and was evidently starving to death when the
shot gun put it out of misery. Its plumage, however, was in good shape,
not quite as glossy perhaps as some, but it was quite evident that the
bird did not suffer from lack of food at the time of its last moult. What
food it could have lived upon during the winter is a subject for specula-
tion. It was an impossibility to pick up anything from the ground with
such a bill, and whatever its diet was during the winter, it could not be
found in the more northern ranges in early spring. — P. A. Taverner,

Chicago. III.

Ank, XXI, Apr., 1904, p. ^ 1 %

U

Crow and Snake.— While riding down
through Occum, Conn., on May 26th last,
we noticed a crow on a level garden bed
killing a snake, which was not less than
eighteen inches long. The snake seemed
fully conscious of what was going on and
tiied to get away, but showed fight every
time it was seized. It was interesting to
see the crow bite him, lift him up and
throw him to the ground, keeping one eye
on us the while. This went on for some
time, the snake getting weaker every bout.
The crow evidently not liking the nearness
of myself and carriage, seized the snake
within a few inches of its head and flew
with it into the large trees beyond the
Wequonock River where we could not
watch its further operations. The snake
hung down its full length while being car-
ried over the river. Crows are great scav-
V nmm ‘ while thev have young

i: A Timely Word in Behalf of the

c Crow, Corvus americanus.
a

BY EDWARD TENNANT.

Early one morning in May last a friend of
mine, a well-to-do farmer, called on me and
said he wished to know some way to poison
Crows. He said that they had bothered him
considerably for the past three years and this
season he wanted to be rid of them, and asked
me if X could give him the desired information
I told him that X could, but did not feel as
though X ought to, for the simple reason that
crows were more useful birds than most people
were aware of, and asked him in regard to the
nature and extent of the damage done. He
said that three years ago this spring he ploughed
up an old piece of land about three acres in ex-
tent and planted it with corn, and as soon as the
seed was up the Crows began to congregate and

some times there would be a hundred or more
on the field scratching and pulling up the corn, ;
and no amount of scare-crows would keep
them off, so they bothered him all summer.

The next year they were not so plenty, as a
near neighbor had poisoned a good many, but
he said he had to plant a good deal of the corn
over, though the damage done was trifling he
didn't want the trouble of planting it over so
many times, and for this reason he wanted to
be rid of them.

I explained to him that it was not the corn
the crows were after but the various small in-
sects, larvae and coleoptera that invest the corn
and potato fields in this section, and in order to
get at them the Crows had found that pull-
ing up the corn was the easiest and most effec-
tive way, and this piece of land in particular
being old was full of the kind above mentioned,
and of course the Crows found it out naturally
and had worked on this till they had cleaned
them all out as he said they had not bothered
him any thus far, and after showing him some
of tlie records of the examinations ot the stom-
achs of these birds, he said that lie was con-
vinced that after all the Crows were not so
destructive as he thought and he went home a
wiser if not a better man.

0,& O. XIII. Sept. 1 888 P ■ 13 5 -/ 3 (.

Correspondence.

Editor of O. & O. :

My Dear Sir: — In answer to D. D. Stone’s
question in the February O. & C). as to why do
Crows when pulling up corn almost invariably
take the soft kernel, if they are only after
after out-worms, etc., allow me to say that my
article in September O. & O., 1888, was written
from my own personal observations and ex-
perience. Though comparatively a young
man, I am quite familiar with the food habits
of our New England birds, and especially those
of Crows, Hawks and Owls; and of the species
under consideration I have collected quite a
few, and always made it a rule to examine and
note carefully the contents of their stomachs,
and of nineteen specimens dissected during
the spring of ’87 and ’88 I have not, in a single
instance, found any traces of hard or soft
kernels of corn, but on the contrary have al-
most always found the stomachs full of large
white grubs, cut-worms, and other noxious
insects which are injurious to the healthy
growth of the corn plant. I have, on several
occasions in my tramps afield while passing
through a planted corn field, noticed the young
plants laying around, where the crows had
been at work, with the soft kernel still attached
to the roots, yet I have observed Crows feeding
in the dead of winter on corn which had been
carelessly left standing in the field; but as to
the above results I was led to believe that
insects constitute the principal food of Corvus
during the spring and summer months. If I
am in error, of course I am perfectly willing
to be corrected, and do not wish to be under-
stood as taking any decided stand in the mat-
ter, and would be pleased to hear from others
on the subject, but will say that, despite the
desperate efforts of man to destroy these birds
by the use of strychnine and gun powder, they
seem to hold their own without any serious
effect to the various crops; and I am yet to be
convinced that Crows are more injurious than
beneficial to agriculture, and remain
Respectfully,

Edward Tennant. / .

Attleboro Falls, Mass., March 17, 1889.

/ttf. VvtX IV. /t. (, y .

uchxvo und outt ivcnici u± cum lor mem selves,
but I do know that they take it to their nests
as food for their young. We have had more
or less corn pulled every year and it is safe to
say that the soft kernels are taken from nine
hills out of every ten that are pulled. I have
often seen crows working on a cornfield, and
on going over the field have found scarcely any
corn pulled, but have found the soil disturbed
about the hill, where, undoubtedly, the crows
had picked out a cut worm. I have a method
of dealing with crows that I think is better
than strychnine or the “shotgun act.” It is
this: If I have time in the spring I mark all
the new crows’ nests in close proximity to the
field intended for corn. As late as possible,
but before the eggs are hatched, I overturn
the nests. By so doing the annual crop of
crows is not shortened but given a setback.

Before the second clutch of eggs is hatched the
corn is large enough so that they will not pull
it up but will take all the cut worms they can
find, just the same. Most respectfully,

v. May m?. u . Tx 8t0ne -

Correspondence.

Cbow and Snake— While riding down
through Occum, Conn., on May 26th last,
we noticed a crow on a level garden bed
killing a snake, which was not less than
eighteen inches long. The snake seemed
fully conscious of what was going on and
tried to get away, but showed fight every
time it was seized. It was interesting to
see the . crow bite him, lift him up and
throw him to the ground, keeping one eye
on us the whil e- This went on for some
time, the snake getting weaker every bout.

The crow evidently not liking the nearness
of myself and carriage, seized the snake
within a few inches of its head and flew
with it into the large trees beyond the
Wequonock Kiver where we could not
watch its further operations. The snake
hung down its full length while being car-
ried over the river. Crows are great scav-
engers, especially while they have young
in the nest, and during this time they will
carry off more very young chickens than
any Hawk in North America.

0.*0. Vlll. Feb. 1883. p, //.

ai|l .n:au ginpinqs siia\ qnjs aqx vraioamp
m saqoni uai pm: qSiq iooj iqSia qnoqe sum
t[ou[m ‘qnjs ajduui-ijns ‘namo.i ‘[[liras i: in szi.id
| u punoj Apiuanpioj \ ‘uoauag atp ipiM nop
-onnf si[ 9Aoqu sa[uu aa.iqi 'jnoqi: ‘jsau upiano
oqi no Suidumo 3[iqA\ ‘fgsi jo .oiu.ids am ur .

* • S*v« mm tile desired information.

I told him that 1 could, but did not feel as
though 1 ought to, for the simple reason that
crows were more useful birds than most people
w«« aware of, and asked him in regard to the
nature and extent of the damage done. He
said that three years ago this spring he ploughed
UP an oId Piece of land about three acres in ex-
tent and planted it with corn, and as soon as the
seed was up the Crows began to congregate and

some times there would be a hundred or more
on the field scratching and pulling up the corn,
and no amount of scare-crows would keep
them of), so they bothered him all summer.

The next year they were not so plenty, as a
near neighbor had poisoned a good many, but
he said he had to plant a good deal of the corn
over, though the damage done was trifling he
didn t want the trouble of planting it over so
many times, and for this reason he wanted to
be rid of them.

I explained to him that it was not the corn
the crows were after but the various small in-
sects, larvae and coleoptera, that invest the corn
and potato fields in this section, and in order to
get at them the Crows had found that pull-
ing up the corn was the easiest and most effee- j
tive way, and this [decs of land in particular
being old was full of the kind above mentioned,
and of course the Crows found it out naturally
and had worked on this till they had cleaned
them all out as he said they had not bothered
him any thus far, and after showing him some
of the records of the examinations of the stom-
achs of these birds, he said that lie was con-
vinced that after all the Crows were not so
destructive as he thought and he went home a
wiser if not a better man.

Q,& O. XI II. Sept. 1 888 p.i3 5

Editor of O . & O . :

My Dear Sir: — In answer to D. D. Stone’s
question in the February O. & O. as to why do
Crows when pulling up corn almost invariably
take the soft kernel, if they are only after
after cut-worms, etc,., allow me to say that my
article in September O. & O., 1888, was written
from my own personal observations and ex-
perience. Though comparatively a young
man, I am quite familiar with the food habits
of our New England birds, and especially those
of Crows, Hawks and Owls; and of the species

3-- ^ T 1 - ■ ■ ■ ... ,1 1 ... . f ,. ( ] nuiffi a

•simuomiisai imoop aq4 juas aArq oq.H oof:

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mauaq oa jitaoxa paisaraquistp Apuriua air aAV 'ii.wouq
aq pinoqs 4orj aqi ‘paiuasajdai sm 41m si 15 jj -jau
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lions HU spiiq 8uiA.ia89.nl uj anpiA jo aAiucl 4q8.uu 41
pa4uasaarlaj sr si 41 jj -4; 4iioqr .taAa4rqAi Su;q40u Mouq
aAV 'sqqif) -jv -y -jq jo 4in[4 04 .rajoj aAV •smiuiioa
•mo ui pasp-iaApu Suiuququia jo ssaacud u 4uoqu Sutqsn
suopratunuiuioo jo jaquinu u paAiaaaj aAuq aAV

ipuauaS uopoupaj aq4 aqutu 04 sda4s aqej sjaqsi[

-quit aq4 4,uop A'q.w ‘41; 41 ,iajjo A’aqa mit[4 ajoiu 1(4. mu
4ou si qjo.A aq4 jj - 84UJ paanpaj Api?aj3 v ju [mimrqr
AuAvSpiij Max atp ,ioj sujquaw . 04 t»pu nmijd s4j sas;4
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•ua4suy

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4s.iq ‘upoog uaok 't[4noui4JUa ui uaqui p.uqM.00 V

■iuaq4 joj aSarqo aaipuj ui [piqs ;>a\ sa[oi4
-ju jo sajuiudas .ioj puuuiap pasuaaoui aqj 04 8 uim (>

/ ' '

Editor 0 . O. :

April O. & O. at hand this morning. Allo-v
me to have another word concerning crows h
a cornfield, and I will speak of my own ex
perience. I was born on a farm and am nov
living on one, and have lived in the country al
my life with the exception of nine years
Shortly after I began the study of oruitliologi
in a proper manner (1874) I became convincec
that crows were of far more benefit than injury
to the farmer. I still hold that opinion. Mr,
Tennant does not state in Ids last article
whether the crows lie dissected were adults 01
young ones. I cannot say that the adult crown
take tlie soft kernel of corn for themselves,
but I do know that they take it to their nests
as food for their young. We have had more
or less corn pulled every year and it is safe to
say that the soft kernels are taken from nine
kills out of every ten that are pulled. I have
often seen crows working on a cornfield, and
on going over the field have found scarcely any
corn pulled, but have found the soil disturbed
about the lull, where, undoubtedly, the crows
had picked out a cut worm. I have a method
of dealing with crows that 1 think is better
than strychnine or the “shotgun act.” It is
tins: If I have time in the spring I mark all
tlie new crows’ nests in close proximity to the
field intended for corn. As late as possible,
hut before the eggs are hatched, I overturn
the nests. By so doing the annual crop of
crows is not shortened but given a setback.

Before the second clutch of eggs is hatched the
corn is large enough so that they will not pull
it up but will take all the cut worms they can
find, just the same. Most respectfully,

(PtM.X I V. Mcty / to-?. ft . 71 st0ne -

Prehensile Feet of the Crow ( C'orvus frugivorus). — Apropos of what
has lately been published regarding the power of the Crow to carry ob-
jects in its claws I will give my latest note on the subject.

X was attracted to a bunch of trees by a commotion among a troop of
Robins, and discovered some six individuals fiercely attacking a Crow, a
second black form being detected skulking some little distance away.
Presently Crow number one flew off, followed by the entire mob of excited
Red-breasts, when Crow number two made a dash into the trees, and
emerged with an unfledged Robin grasped in his dexter claws; the
youngster kicking and piping lustily. The cries brought back the guar-
dians, who at once gave chase to the captor, and while they were off in one
direction, Crow number one charged the nest from an opposite point, and
retired with another of the brood firmly held in his claws. — Montague
Chamberlain, St. John, N. B. Auk, I, Jan,, 1884. p. ^ ,

Do Crows carry objects in their Claws?— There is a habit assigned to
Crows in Eastern Maine, which, if well authenticated, has an interest in
the discussion of the question whether they can transport objects in their
claws.

Near Eastport, Maine, there is known to me a considerable deposit of
the broken tests and half-decomposed soft parts of our common New
England sea-urchin (S. droebackiensis ), far removed above the level of
high water. This deposit is formed in the main of fragments of the solid
tests of these echinoderms, which are said to have been carried there alive
by Crows, which frequent the locality in great numbers. At a loss to
account for the appearance of these fragments in this unusual locality, I
made inquiries of several persons living in the neighborhood, all of whom
declared that the sea-urchin remains were brought by the Crows from the
shallow water not far oft'. One intelligent person, not a naturalist, said
he had observed the Crows transporting them in their claws. Although
1 can add nothing to this testimony from personal observation, I am
familiar with several other accumulations of these marine animals in
localities above high tide, from which I have observed Crows to fly up
when startled. I cannot tell whether the Crows at such times were feed-
ing upon the sea-urchins or not, although several of the echinoderms still
had their soft parts adhering to the “shells.” Our sea-urchin is often left
by a retreating tide in the pools where it could be easily seen and taken
without difficulty by the Crows. In autumnal and winter gales multi-
tudes are washed up on the beaches to the line of the highest reach of the
tides. — J. Walter Fewkes, Cambridge, Mass.

Auk, I, Jan,, 1884. p. fZ'JS

Crows Fishing. —A propos of some notes recently published by Mr.
Chamberlain on the fish-eating propensities of the Crows of New Bruns-
wick Mr. Manly Hardy writes me that he has twice seen Crows fishing in
the Penobscot River near Bangor. On one occasion several of them were
flying about over the water occasionally dipping down like Swallows, and
seizing some floating matter which he thought might be offal from ves-
sels. At another time they were making frequent forays from a boom-
pier, to which they returned after each flight. They often struck the
water with sufficient force to violently agitate its surface but never
actually dove.

Mr. Hardy also speaks of their eating sea-urchins and other shell-fish,
a habit which, of course, has been already reported ; and he has known
them to devour a string of twenty good-sized trout which had been left
in a spring under water, well concealed, as he supposed, by the over-
hanging alders. — William Brewster, Cambridge , Mass.

Bull N.0. 0. 8iJan, X88S* p, 6 ~ 9 .

Dwight, Summer Birds of

PrinceJEdward Island,,

Corvus americanus. American Crow.— -Nowhere, in the breeding
season, have I ever seen Crows so abundant and so tame. They were
never out of sight or hearing, and they sit on the fences and ‘caw" at you
derisively as you ride by. Of course their numbers were augmented bv
young birds, and early in July they were beginning to flock, as indicated
by a gathering of nearly a hundred seen July 4. AtTignish there was a
roost in a large patch of woods, whither towards sundown and later
Crows were seen converging from all directions. In the woods a terrible
noise was kept up until it grew dark. The Crows do not molest the
farmer to any great extent, as he raises no corn, but I was told they kill
young chickens and pick out the eyes of new-born lambs. They daily
congregate for a feast in the fields where the refuse of the many lobster-
canning establishments is used as a fertilizer.

Auk X, Jan, 1893, p.10

Tiie Crow’ s Fondness for Chicken.— It is getting
so now that the farmer and poultry raiser have more to
fear from the ravages of the Crow than from all others
of the feathered tribe. He will come down into the
door-yard, right under the farmer’s nose and fly off
with a chick, and the old “ scare-crow ” of by-gone
days has no effect upon his nibship when he is after
his favorite morsel. Why is it that, until lately, we
have heard nothing of this habit of the Crow? Is it
something new of him? I for one have noticed it
only for the past two years.— [S. R. Ingersoll, Ballston
Spa, N.Y.

Oj&Qo sy, ■jEB@ a i8&o, p.&e

■Winter Notes from Stephentown, N. T.

Ben j amin Hoag.

February 10, while at Pontoosac Lake,
near Pittsfield, Mass., on a fishing trip I
noticed numbers of Crows sitting on the
trees along the shore. Now and then one
of them would swoop down near the holes
where the lines ^were set, and pick up
something. I soon found it was the dead
minnows they were after. A resident of

the locality told me that on the day before
Ij they stole two fine pickerel from one man.

O.&O.V 0 I.I 8 , Jan. 1893 p.12

Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture,
J. A. Singley, Giddings, Texas.

No. 5. American Crow (Corvus fruc/ivorus).
Adult female. Nov. 15, 1887, 10 a. 111 . Stomach
acorns and Coleoptera.

O.&O. XIII. Feb. 1888 p.24

Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture.
J. A. Singley, Giddings , Texas.

No. 4. American Crow (Corvus frugivorus).
Adult male. March 2, 1887, 10 a. m. Shot by
my neighbor in his corn field; newly planted.
Stomach contained two grains of corn, and a
large number of cut worms.

O.&O. XIII. Feb. 1888 p.24

i

61

The Crow ( Corvus frugivorus) as a Fisherman. — I am courteously
permitted by Mr. L. I. Flower of Clifton, N. B., to publish the following
note of an interesting incident which came under his observation.

“ A few years since, while crossing the Washademock Lake, I noticed a
Crow flying close to the surface at a spot where the water is very shoal.
Suddenly, when but a short distance from my boat, the Crow thrust his
claw down into the water and drew to the surface what I afterward discov-
ered was a fish of about half a pound weight, and then seizing it with his
bill, by aid of ‘tooth and nail’ succeeded in drawing it out of the water
and carrying it to an adjacent rock, the fish all the while struggling hard
to get free.” — Montague Chamberlain, St. John. N. B.

Auk, I, Oct,, 1884 . p. 3 V /•

Carnivorous Propensities of the Crow ( Corvus americanus). — 'M.j
neighbor, Mr. E. M. Davis, indulges in the luxury of live pets, and
amongst them is a Crow, reared by hand from the nest and now perhaps
three or four months old. He manifests the usual inquisitive and mis-
chievous habits of the species in confinement, secreting various objects for
which he can have no possible use, and worrying on all occasions both
the cat and the dog of the premises, by picking at their toes, pulling their
tails, etc. He seems to fear nothing but a small rubber hose used for
sprinkling purposes, upon the first appearance of which, even before any
,T7o o rVn-r,wn I-, ,■ mnnifpstpH the utmost frip’bt.. and fled to the house

Crows Eating Herons’ Eggs.

About ten pairs of Night Herons ( Nycti -
ardea grisea,) and three pair of Little
Blue Herons, (Ardea coerulea,) have nested
for a few years within the corporate limits
of the city of New Brunswick, N. J.

When I visited this heronry, late in April,

’82, I discovered that one nest already
contained four eggs, two others each three,
several more one and two, while the re-
mainder were as yet empty. About two
weeks later, after climbing up to a number
of nests, and passing from the top of one
tree to another, where this was practica-
ble, thus examining nearly all, I was sur-
prised to find each empty, though the old
birds fluttered overhead or alighted near
by. At the base of many of the trees in
which nests were situated lay the eggs
with a piece broken out and the meat gone.
I suspectad two parties of the robbery —
either the Red Squirrel, ( Sciurus hudsoni-
us,) that I saw some distance away, or else
a number of Crows that were perched in a
neighboring tree cawing lustily. On May
20th I examined the nests a third time,
finding them again without eggs, while
fresh shells were strewn on the ground.
The Herons were now shy and restless,
whereas the Crows, for whom I entertained
a strong aversion, were more audacious
and clamorous than ever. A subsequent
and final visit revealed conditions un-
changed, the Crows as officious as ever, so
that, it being very late in the season, I was
satisfied that no young birds were reared
last year. I fear the Herons will remove
to some other breeding ground the coming
Spring, a proceeding which I should very
much regret. — A. G. Van Aken, New
Brunswick, N. J.

ver the hose ap-
Quite recently
[edged, was cap-
l to keep it away
•st introduction,
as a terrier does
le the way of all
: Crow had been
es, the killing of
jiral propensities
\ N G I) O N , Cincin-

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Food of Crows in Winter.

Before me lie the contents of the crop of a Com-
mon Crow, (Corvus americanus,) shot while the
ground was yet frozen as he returned from feeding
grounds down the river to a rookery (?) some two
miles above here. The product is largely vegetable
showing husks of grains of Indiana corn. Evi-
dences of dainty piscatorial food are found in small
amphiccelus vertebra. Evidences of other verte-
brate food are found in bones. I am not yet able to
classify a fragment of a small humerus or femur.
Are the records of the winter food of this bird suf
ficient to make him a living bill of fare? — Theo.
G. Lemmon , Westport, Mo.

O.&o. XI. Apr. 1886 . p. ft

70

The Crow ( Corvus frugivorus ) as a Fisherman. — I am courteously
permitted by Mr. L. I. Flower of Clifton, N. B., to publish the following
note of an interesting incident which came under his observation.

“A few years since, while crossing the Washademock Lake, I noticed a
Crow flying dose to the surface at a spot where the water is very shoal.
Suddenly, when but a short distance from my boat, the Crow thrust his
claw down into the water and drew to the surface what I afterward discov-
ered was a fish of about half a pound weight, and then seizing it with his
bill, by aid of ‘tooth and nail’ succeeded in drawing it out of the water
and carrying it to an adjacent rock, the fish all the while struggling hard
to get free.” — Montague Chamberlain, St. John. N. B.

Auk, I, Oct., 1884. p. 39 / -

Carnivorous Propensities of the Crow ( Corvus americamis). — My
neighbor, Mr. E. M. Davis, indulges in the luxury of live pets, and
amongst them is a Crow, reared by hand from the nest and now perhaps
three or four months old. He manifests the usual inquisitive and mis-
chievous habits of the species in confinement, secreting various objects for
which he can have no possible use, and worrying on all occasions both
the cat and the dog of the premises, by picking at their toes, pulling their
tails, etc. He seems to fear nothing but a small rubber hose used for
sprinkling purposes, upon the first appearance of which, even before any
water was thrown, he manifested the utmost fright, and fled to the house
and his master for protection ; this he Ijas repeated whenever the hose ap-
pears. Query: Is it a case of hereditary fear of snakes? Quite recently
a young House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) , not fully fledged, was cap-
tured and taken into the happy family, pains being taken to keep it away
from the cat , but not from the Crow, which, at its first introduction,
pounced upon it savagely, seized it by the neck, shook it as a terrier does
a rat, and before it could be released the Sparrow had gone the way of all
birds; portions of it being eaten by its destroyer. As the Crow had been
well fed, on a diet embracing meat, grain, and vegetables, the killing of
the Sparrow would seem to have been the outcome of natural propensities
rather than the result of the pangs of hunger. — F. W. Langdon, Cincin-
nati , Ohio .

Auk, 3. Oct. , 1886. p. y 86 .

ATf)TII9.IjX0 0.I1I OqM S3jAV13H p9-raPl n °T S 1? 9 H
eqq. jo eqi qq^- StnSuu sum. ditreMS

p 9 .raqmij pais epismq papooM

• 9 jq eqf oj j9Tnninjj psoxqp^qti'jj 9 qi
jo epnjijju eqi ui ‘Smj is uo estMSScuo jsai
ppioM 9 pjmej aqi SaijqSq eiaM sapsra aqi
oji q \\ -saqsnqui pro? puno.tS aqi uo paums
-sis suoijisocI J9A0U eqf moij Suijsaie^xi
Xjpstoadsa sism satuMOQ aqi 1° dtqsj.moo
oqq -pup[ ns jo aaiqj spsaq roisd ejqtssod
t? q'Bipq Moqs oj Sut£.ij osp?

Food of Crows in Winter.

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9I9M H0IUA\O(I

neighboring tree cawing lustily. On May
20th I examined the nests a third time,
finding them again without eggs, while
fresh shells were strewn on the ground.
The Herons were now shy and restless,
whereas the Crows, for whom I entertained
a strong aversion, were more audacious
and clamorous than ever. A subsequent
and final visit revealed conditions un-
changed, the Crows as officious as ever, so
that, it being very late in the season, I was
satisfied that no young birds were reared
last year. I fear the Herons will remove
to some other breeding ground the coming
Spring, a proceeding which I should very
much regret. — A. G . Van Aken, New
Brunswick, N. J.

Before me lie the contents of the crop of a Com-
mon Crow, ( Corvus americanus,) shot while the
ground was yet frozen as he returned from feeding
grounds down the river to a rookery (?) some two
miles above here. The product is largely vegetable
showing husks of grains of Indiana corn. Evi-
dences of dainty piscatorial food are found in small
ampliiccelus vertebrae. Evidences of other verte-
brate food are found in bones. I am not yet able to
classify a fragment of a small humerus or femur.
Are the records of the winter food of this bird suf
licient to make him a living bill of fare? — Theo.
Q. Lemmon , Westport, Mo.

O.&o. XI. Apr. 1886 . p. ff.

70

Corvus amor io anus .

Feeding habits of the English Sparrow and Crow.
By Sylvester D. Judd.

AuK., Xlll, Oct., 1896, pp 285-9.

See under Passer domost icus .

Corvus amor icanus .

Feeding habits of the English Sparrow and Cro
By Sylvester D. Judd.

Auk, Xlll, Oct., 1896, pp 285-9.
See under Passer doraost icus .

AN EPIDEMIC OF ROUP IN THE CANANDAIGUA
CROW ROOST.

BY ELON HOWARD EATON.

Plate II.

About the middle of December, 1901, a malady broke out
among the Crows ( Corvus americanus) of Ontario County, New
York, which, ere spring, had decimated the ranks of the local
‘ roost.’ As soon as winter had fairly begun, reports commenced
to come in of Crows which had been “blinded by freezing of their
eyes,” as the farmers expressed it.

Upon careful examination it was found that the roup had in-
vaded the Ontario flock, and birds were dying daily from its effects.
In one field about twenty dead and dying birds were picked up
in one day. Nearly every grove or large field within a distance
of ten miles from the roosting-grounds displayed one or more
dead Crows. Nearly every wandering crow’s track in the snow,
after circling round and round in an apparently aimless manner,
would lead one to a black carcass lying under a tree or against a
fence. Usually they sank down with their bills in the snow and
their wings very slightly extended, but sometimes they died in a
sitting posture with the feathers of the head ruffled up to their
fullest extent. Often the birds died in trees, clutching the
branches to the last and then falling headlong into the snow or
landing on their backs with the wing tips pointing upwards.

All the sick birds were suffering from an acute inflammation of

\

was badly swollen, and tne surrounding sk.ui whs
feathers.

CJ oa^«4c

l. // OR BUSH. y h^ss*'

Series of 1896. a*

MASSACHUSETTS

CROP REPORT

Month op August, 1896.

ISSUED BT

WM. R. SESSIONS,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,
18 Post Office Square.

Crows as Fighters. — Indian Falls, N. Y . — Editor American
Field : —In the Spring of 1867, while on my way to my timber
to chop some wood, I heard the crow6 making a great fuss, and
thinking perhaps they saw a fox, I hurried to the spot. On
reaching the place I saw, as I supposed, a crow lying on the
ground. I approached to pick him up and found he had another
crow beneath him, and was pecking him with all his might. The
bills of both were bloody up to their eyes. The uppermost one
had his antagonist foul. The under bird was lying upon his left
side, and the one on top had seized his right leg, close to the
body, with his left foot, and his other foot was clinched around
his opponent’s head, with one of his claws fastened in its eye.
They must have been fighting for some time, as their beaks were
very bloody. They took no notice of me, and I walked up to
them and picked them up, and had some difficulty in loosening
the grip one had on the other. I took them home, and placed
them in a box, but both died in about four weeks. They did not
offer to renew the combat after being placed in confinement.

I'JM* 'j y'n Vo»A I. B. F.

-Ga.3-5, p.nC.

:ave killed a number of crows in the last few days ;
all of them but one was blind in one eye. Some of the old
folks here say it is on account of the cold and scarcity of
food. Has any reader of the American Field ever seen
the like ? n. E. D.

Reisterstown, Md.

Mr. Greene’s description of the character and habits of
the crow is correct. -Ho bigger rascal ever traveled on
wings than the crow. He can beat any hawk killing young
chickens and turkeys'. Well do I remember his tricks in
ante helium days. He seemed fepknow that the slaves were
not permitted to ojvn firearm^ and he would always go to
their, poultry yards to £east oh ydung chickens and turkeys.
The crow will kill all kinds of, fowl, rob birds’ nests of both
eggs and young, suck eggs, pick up and eat the farmer’s
corn as spon as it sprouts, and will do more damage to
melon patches than would so many hogs.

One day, recently, wliile visiting my uncle in Robertson
County, one of the servants came rushing in the house and
exclaimed :

“ Mr. Birdo, please run out in de orchard and shoot dat
crow ; he’s killing all our chickens.”

I seized my gun and ran out to the place indicated; I
could not see a chicken, but heard an unusual stir among
the birds in an apple tree. I advanced toward the tree
when out sailed the crow. I shot both barrels at him but
failed to bring him to ground. The birds in the tree cried
piteously, and then I saw what the black rascal had been up
to — he found the birds’ nest and had devoured every young
one in it. I learned from the family that this same crow,
with its mate, had killed a great many chickens. Both
crows were afterward shot.

The crow has but one redeeming trait — it will boldly at-
tack the largest hawk that flies.

I am glad the American Field has a natural history de-
partment. It is a matter of surprise to me why naturalists
do not make a greater effort to obtain information from
sportsmen. Ho one has better opportunities to study nat-
ural history than a sportsman, especially if his occupation
be that of a farmer. X \V/// Birdo.

,K. /, 7-4 /

February io, 1893.]

Eleventh Year.
Vol. XXI. No. 523.

SCIENCE.

77

one to ten times as great. Many of them have a diameter of
less than one fifty-thousandth of an inch and it is probable that
there are multitudes of them so small that the highest powers of
the microscope do not render them visible. Two thousand of
them could swim side by side through the eye of a needle and one
could hold in his single hand fifty millions of millions of them.
Of the smaller ones it would take 15 625,000,000,000 to fill one
cubic inch.

Now compare these with our mammoth Sequoias. The trunk
of one of these trees, to say nothing about its roots and branches,
jcontains at least 200,000.000 cubic inches. It is, therefore,
8,125,000,000.000,000,000,000 times as large as a single bac-
terium. This number is, of course, inconceivable. It may be
read 3 125 millions of millions of millions. The proportion is
about the same as that of an ordinary football to the earth itself.

Again, the duration of the life of many of the bacteria is only
an hour. There are 8.760 hours in a year, and in 3 000 years
there are 26.280,000 hours. Thus the tree has lived on while
more than twenty-six millions of generations of its invisible kin-
dred may have lived and died in the stream at its base. From
the bacterium to the sequoia, what a span ! Yet the rolling
globe on which they live is but a speck in the universe, its
diameter too small to be used as a measuring unit for interstellar
spaces. As many bacteria could be laid side by side on a linear
inch as earths upon the diameter of its orbit around the sun.
Compared with the tree, the bacterium is almost infinitessimal;
by the side of the earth, the tree is insignificant; in the solar sys-
tem, the earth is but a small factor; and if the solar system were
annihilated, it would be millions of years before its loss would be
felt on distant stars. Magnitudes are, therefore, relative, and
things are great or small according to the standpoint from which
we view them.

Cumberland University.

DESTRUCTION OF

CROWS DURING
""SPELL.

THE RECENT COLD

BY DR. ROBERT RIDGWAY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Whether it be the result of disease or exposure, the suffering
inflicted on the crows in the vicinity of Washington during the
recent severe weather is of great extent, and of such a character
as to excite the sympathy of any one familiar with the facts. On
the 20th of January my son went rabbit bunting, and on his return
told me he had found many dead crows in the pine woods, and
others that were totally blind. The following day I accompanied
him to the place where he had found them, and was really aston-
ished at the sight presented. Very few crows were seen flying
about, but upon entering the thick woods of scrub-pines, which
was evidently the roosting-place of large numbers of these birds,
they were met with on every hand. Some were lying on the
snow, dead and frozen stiff ; many more were perched in the trees,
at various heights, in all stages of helplessness. The majority of
them could fly, and on our near approach would do so; but in a
moment it became apparent that they could not see, for the first
thing in their line of flight, as, for example, a branch, would
stop them, when they would either flutter to the ground or,
changing their course, would continue their flight, to be again
checked by a branch, or if they happened to miss any obstruction
until clear of the woods (which rarely occurred) they continued,
slowly feeling their way, over the open fields, often dropping to
the snow-covered ground after flying a few hundred yards. Those
which did not fly at our approach were too much weakened from
starvation to do so. They were easily caught, and in every in-
stance were found to be absolutely blind, except one individual,
which had one eye but little affected. In many the eyes were
closed and much swollen ; in some one or both eyes had burst and
frozen, this having possibly been caused by violent contact with
the sharp ends of broken twigs. In all cases in which the eyes were
not closed or inflamed the pupil was milky white and the iris
bluish. Inability to find food on account of their blindness was
evidently the immediate cause of starvation ; for it was found
that the dead birds were, as a rule, very much emaciated, while
many of the living ones, particularly those which were most

active, and consequently difficult to capture, were in fairly good
condition. It was pitiful to behold their suffering, both from the
pangs of hunger as well as from the pain of their wouDded eyes.
Sometimes the snow beneath the trees was nearly covered by pine
needles and small twigs which they had plucked off and tried to
eat (they were seen doing this), while' several of those which had
fallen to the ground were eating snow.

The extent to which this epidemic, or whatever it may be. has
affected the crow population of this locality is not easy to esti-
mate. My first impression was that the species was nearly ex-
terminated there, since certainly 95 out of every 100 crows seen
during the day were perfectly “ stone-blind,” and 10 per cent of
them dead. That this impression was incorrect was, however,
proven by the next day’s observation, the locality being visited
much later in the day, when large numbers were seen coming in
from the surrounding country to roost, — all these “ able-bodied ”
crows having been abroad after food at the time of our previous
visit. There seemed to be about as many of these as there were
of the disabled ones, so the reduction in their numbers will proba-
bly not exceed one-half, and may not be so great.

A third visit, several days later, showed no increase among the
afflicted birds. There were, however, as might have been ex-
pected, a much larger number of dead ones, while those still
living were found more scattered, being encountered nearly every-
where in the open fields, where they had fallen, exhausted, during
their flight from the woods.

So far as I was able to discover, after very careful examination
of all specimens within reach, during both visits, only the com-
mon species, Corvus americanus, was affected by the malady.
At any rate, neither my companions nor myself could discover a
single fish crow ( C . ossifragus), though the latter was well repre-
sented among those which were flying about.

I am at a loss to account for this scourge Several causes have
been suggested, the most plausible of which, it seems to me, is
that in returning to their roosting-place one excessively cold
evening they were compelled to face a freezing wind, perhaps
bearing minute ice-particles, which actually froze their eyee. It
may be, however, that a better explanation can be given.

REMARKS ON AMERICAN LICHENOLOGY. — III.

BY W. W. CALKINS. CHICAGO, ILL.

The explorers for lichens in a locality so favorable as Florida
will not fail to notice the abundance of brilliantly colored fungi,
and. if interested, will be tempted to collect them. On some of
these will perhaps occur parasitic lichens of rarity, as Colno-
gonium and Opegrapha But beneath a bed of Agaraci, on the
sandy soil of an old plantation, a close search will show another
interesting lichen, known as Heppia. despreauxii Tuck. Its char-
acter was long disputed, owing to a close resemblance to an allied
genus of lichens, Solorina. The small cup shaped apothecia,
growing single or in clusters, immersed in a green thallus, have
deceived good Hellenists. We owe to Dr, Tuckerman the eluci-
dation of this elegent species. Only two were described by him
in the “Synopsis.” Last winter I had the good fortune to find
anotner in the mountains of Tennessee, which, having been sent
in vain around our own country, a puzzle to all, was promptly
determined by Dr. Nylander of Paris to be the Heppia virescens,
Acli. variety rugosa Nyl. I may remark that it is astonishing
how soon afterwards we all saw the point.

In the old field as well, with a mixed second growth of Pinus
taeda, Ilex opaca. Ilex Cassine , Myrica cerifera, Olea americana,
etc., will be found on their foliage numerous small fungi, such as
Sphaeria. and Cercospora, many of which have been illustrated
by Professor Ellis in his “ Exsiccati ” from my collections of
fungi.

In close contact, lichens and fresh- water algae and Hepaticce also
hold equal sway. But, towering over all, the stately Magnolia and
the Oordonia (red or bull bay), with their glossy evergreen foliage,
afford us the tropical lichen, Strigula complanata Fee., and, rarer
still, Heterothecium augustini Tuck., though, indeed, the Sdbal
serrulata, common everywhere, abounds in elegant specimens in c

STATEN ISLAND CROWS AND THEIR ROOSTS.

BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS.

Able-bodied Crows do not roost on Staten Island in winter,
but fly as night approaches to better protected retreats in New
Jersey. In ordinary winters five or six hundred visit the island
daily, and generally repair to the South Beach where they find a
considerable store of food, in the fish, crabs, and other dead
creatures that are cast ashore. As the afternoon wears away, the
Crows fly westerly from the beach, and congregate on the salt
meadows along Fresh Kill, on the opposite side of the island.
If these meadows are covered with snow, they assemble in the
trees, or in some upland field, which is more likely to be bare.
Here, with additions to their number from other parts of the
island, they hold a convention, and gradually, by twos and by
threes, and in small flocks, fly either along the Kill out to the
Sound, or diagonally across Long Neck to New Jersey, to a
roost that lies north or northwest of Staten Island.

Many afternoons have been spent in watching the Crows at Long
Neck and elsewhere on the island, and a few specific observations
will be offered as evidence here, though a more detailed account
is to be found in the Proceedings of the Natural Science Asso-
ciation of Staten Island, for May 12, 1894.

Sunday, December 24, and Christmas day, 1893, were both
very mild ; there was a warm wind and no snow on the ground.
On these occasions several hundred Crows gathered on the salt
meadows in the afternoon, near the head of the main branch of

hundred flew over the water to Sandy Hook. The chief depart-
ure was about 4 p. m. At fifteen minutes past four they had
nearly all gone, but I observed a few belated individuals fly
boldly from the Staten Island shore near the light house, without
any rest previous to undertaking their long journey. Thus many

ORNITHOLOGIST

— AND —

OOLOGIST.

$1.00 per

Annum.

Published fok the BRISTOL ORNITHOLOGICAL
Established, March, 1875.

CLUB.

Single Copy-
10 Cents.

VOL. XIII.

BOSTON, MASS., FEBRUARY,

1888.

No. 2.

The Crows’ Winter Roost at St.
Louis.

BY OTTO WIDMANN.

St. Louis Ibis many sights worth seeing, all
more or less known and appreciated, but one of
its greatest natural curiosities, the big roost of
wintering crows on Arsenal Island, where
thousands and perhaps a hnndred of thousand
crows congregate, is never mentioned.

The Crow is a common summer resident in
this part of the country. Every grove has its
pair nesting, and around their favorite feeding
grounds a dozen crows may be seen together
any day during the breeding season. To these
places the young resort when able to fly, and
parties of thirty or so are nothing unusual in
summer, oftener or sooner heard than seen,
especially when the presence of a hawk excites
their hatred.

In the neigborhood of their winter roost, they
are not seen in any unusual numbers before the
middle of September. The river front of St.
Louis is sixteen miles long. The centre of the
city with the courthouse is about half way of
this long line. Four miles south of the court-
house, down the river, is the head of an island,
called Arsenal Island (formerly Smallpox Is-
land, because during the civil war the smallpox
hospital was situated on this island).

At that time the head of the island was oppo-
site the St. Louis Arsenal, and for that reason
the name of Arsenal Island was given. At the
present day the island begins one mile south of
the Arsenal, having been washed off continually
at its head until about live years ago, when it
was fixed by strong embankments erected by
the government. At the same time, in order to
force the current to the Missouri side, the is-
land was connected with the Illinois shore by
a dam which obstructed the flow of water so
much that the old channel east of the island
is nearly dry now in summer, and willows be-

gin to grow in many places. The island is
therefore steadily growing ; it is two miles long,
one-fourth mile wide, mostly grown up with
willows and cotton woods, from twenty-five
years old at its present head, where the flora is
already more varied by admixture of shrubs
and climbers, to one year old and entirely new
growth at its recent additions. The foot of the
island is a sandbank, changeable in size accord-
ing to the stage of water, at the present low
water about half a mile long, and reaching to
the Illinois shore in the vicinity of the Besse-
mer Steel Works.

The island is not inhabited except by a single
old man, who keeps a few cows in summer and
tries to raise a little corn for their feed. He
does not molest any of its feathered visitors,
but the island is a much frequented shooting
ground for boy hunters who make it very un-
safe on Sundays.

This island has been chosen by the crows for
their winter roost, and during the fifteen years
in which I lived in the neighborhood, I have
seen them regularly every winter.

The reason why the crows selected this island
seems to be the convenient position in regard to
food supply coupled with comparative safety
from nightly raids.

The food supply is twofold : On the land, the
environs of a large city surrrounded by gar-
dens and dairies and pastures, etc.

On the water, the rich harvest provided by
the dumping places of the city which throws
its garbage into the river to carry it off'.

The crow is the typical scavenger, and the
choice of its winter roost proves it. If it could
live on corn and mice, it would spend the win-
ter hawk-fashion, in solitude around some out
of the way corn field, or would scatter in small
troops broadcast over the country.

It is no mice destroyer. Neither is it a grain
eater. I have examined thousands of pellets
(the indigestible parts of food thrown up),
which are lying under the trees where they

Copyright, 1888, by It H. Carpenter and r. B. Webster.

18

ORNITHOLOGIST

[Yol. 13-No. 2

roost and on the sand where they gather. These
pellets show that very few mice enter the bill
of fare of the Crow. But they also prove that
the Crow has no stomach for grain. Large
pieces of maize, and entire kernels of oats and
wheat are thrown out indigested, and even the
acorn, which must often appease their hun-
ger, is found intact in the pellets.

The Crow, eats anything and everything,
when pressed by hunger, but it prefers, animal
matter, and it makes no difference whether it is
fresh or old. It turns around the old droppings
of the cattle to see if there is anything eatable
underneath. It devours a rotten apple for a
change of diet, and eats the chicken without
asking how long it has been dead or with what
disease it died.

When they are so lucky as to find the dead
body of a horse, they return to it every day
until the bones are perfectly clean. I have
even heard of the remarkable sight, when the
cadaver of a man was seen driving down on an
ice field, surrounded and torn to pieces by hords
of crows.

The Crow likes our climate, because we have
as a rule very little snow. The snow which
precedes our cold spells comes with a high
wind, and is therefore drifted. Snow which
falls heavily later in the season does not stay
long. After afresh snowfall, or during a sud-
den cold snap, the Crow’s resource is the river.
For miles and miles along its shores crows
abound, watching at the water’s edge, visiting
the sandbars and hovering over the river, fish-
ing from its surface choice morsels with which
they make hastily for a safe place to eat in
peace.

The most animated picture is to be had in
times when the river is full of floating ice. At
such times it is fairly alive with crows all day.
Sitting on the edge of floating ice fields, they
drift down for miles, watching the agitated
waves until they bring to light the eagerly
sought for dainty in the shape of a rosy lung or
similar sueculency. When such an article has
been found, it is accompanied for many miles
by troops of hungry crows, and the crowning
event takes place when the Bald Eagle joins the
revelers and gets the lion’s share.

In former years, Herring gulls were not un_
common at such feasts, but of late they seem to
get quite scarce around here.

In very hard winters, when the river remains
solidly frozen for some time, the crows are very
much less numerous, but as soon as the snow
begins to go they return, and when the ice
breaks up they are back in full force.

From the middle of September when they
first appear at the roost, until the middle of
October, the increase is slow. The last decade of
October and the first of November is the time
when the bulk of crows arrive at the roost.

Cool, still days, with gloomy skies and misty
air, bring them from the North in loose, strag-
gling flights, from different directions, but fall-
ing into line north of the city, they pass around
its western bounds near Shaw’s garden, and
thence in a straight line towards the foot of the
Island where they arrive in a regular stream,
which pours in some days froml or 2 p. m., un-
til dark.

On arriving above the river the Crow ceases
beating the air, and instead of flapping heavily
along as usual, it spreads its wings and floats
down majestically towards the Island where it
first goes for water and then for a perch in the
trees. This perch is often changed before the
final selection is made. Cottonwoods and wil-
lows twenty to thirty feet high are chosen, and
a dozen or more find a place in a single tree.

When the November sun has set, the trees on
the lower part of the Island are black with
crows, and the noise they make and which they
keep up until quite dark is heard for miles
around. Before the sun is up in the morning
the crows leave the roost, but the noise ma}^ be
heard long before daybreak, and does not cease
until they have left. In open weather in fall,
hardly any Crow is seen at the roost all the fore-
noon. The place looks deserted. The crows
have gone, and the first rays of the sun find
them scattered over hundreds of square miles.
We may go out any direction within twenty
miles of St. Louis, but we see crows winging
their way to some distant feeding ground, scat-
tering as they proceed, spreading over fields
and woods, but enlivening the scenery where-
ever they appear.

They seem to do most of their feeding in the
morning. In the early afternoon they begin to
collect into flocks, and large congregations may
he seen in many places, passing the time play-
fully until ready to go home, when flock joins
flock, trying to keep track if wind and weather
permit. On clear still days, they fly at great
heights. A gale throws them far out of their
beaten path and they fly as low as possible,
seeking shelter from the wind behind woods
and buildings, and following as much as pos-
sible the lowest depressions of the ground.

They first appear at the roost soon after mid-
day, but the majority arrive within an hour
before sunset ; comparatively few come later.

It is not seldom to see them carry food in

Feb. 1888.]

AND OOLOGIST.

19

their bill to the roost, and different kinds of nuts
and acorns, pieces of meat and even bones may
be found on the sandbank.

As long as the weather remains mild the Crow
sleeps in these places, but when the sharp
North winds strip the trees of their leaves,
the trees lose much of their attraction for the
crows, and they begin to spend the nights on
the sand which girdles the island.

In November, comparatively few crows re-
sort to the sand, but when in December a spell
of zero sweeps over the island, most of them
remain on the ground, covering the vast sand-
bar at the foot of the island with innumerable
black dots, and as many more again stay on the
large ice field which stretches now along the
shallow eastern shore like a continuation of the
sandbar.

Here they are on the bare ice from 4 p. m.
till 7 a. m., fifteen long hours, with tempera-
ture near zero, exposed to the fierce wind with-
out any shelter at all. How they can stand it,
is more than I know, and although I have found
frozen crows and crows with stumped toes as
reminiscences of former experiences, I still be-
lieve, as a rule, they stand the rigors of our
winter quite well. The first sunny mild day,
and immediately after the coldest spells, the
crow thinks of courting, and shows all signs of
an amorous crow whose love is not by our tem-
peratures refrigerated.

This courting is done openly, in broad day-
light, socially, gracefully. The crows gather
on a sunny hillside or some similarly favorable
place, talk to each other in the softest crow
language, one by one, flies straight up into the
air, soars fora moment, floats gracefully down,
cheered by the rest, amidst which it alights to
see others do what he did.

As soon as the weather becomes mild and the
ground free from snow and ice, the crows be-
gin to disperse. This is generally not before
February, and sometimes quite late in that
month, but by the middle of March their ranks
are thinned out very much, and few are left
after the first of April. Generally, their depar-
ture is not particularly noticed, it being a con-
tinuation of their daily flight, failing to return
to the roost in the evening.

But sometimes I have seen two birds flying
together in a northerly direction, even in the
afternoon, and right against the incoming
stream of crows. These I take for absconders,
ready to dispense with sociability, the two be-
ing enough company by themselves. With the
beginning of the breeding season, the history of
the common roost ends. We do not now fol-

low them into the sylvan retreats where they
raise a big family. Let us hope that all will re-
turn to us in the fall, bringing with them-
selves a great army of jolly young crows. In-
teresting would it be to learn if other cities on
the lower Missouri and Mississippi have similar
roosts. Omaha, Kansas City, Cairo. Louis-
ville, Memphis, are probably like favored.

O.&Q. XIIX. Feb. 1888 p. //- /£

97

I UCTTBII^ vKV trox “” *** — * ~’ * 1 ,. ,

| making the nest. The actions of the bird
j when binding cobwebs in a suitable fork to
I . .... are most amusing. 1 lie

Dec, 1889.]

AND (DLOGIST.

183

positions. It gives one a true idea of th
bird’s motion and characteristics peculiar eac)
to itself. One has a sure thing on identifies
tion in the field, collecting nests, leaving n
doubts of the species to be settled by the guni

Some there are who may say, “ But you can’
get close enough to always do that.” Tak
time, just as you would to hunt or watch tin
bird in the case of your wanting to know wha
it is. 1 have yet to see the nest or bird in tin
busli that a true collector’s wits, of Nature’:
facts, could not get within five or ten feet o
his object long enough to spring a shot on hi:
sensitive plate.

As shy a little bird as the Hummers are,
have had my face within ten inches of the bin
on the nest; the same with many Sparrows
Finches, Warblers, and even the timid Fly
catchers. I well remember the time I took ;
grand negative of the Farallone Cormorants
on one of my never-to-be-forgotten trips. How
I set uii my camera within five feet of them!
Only four or five birds left the nests; they soon
came back after circling several times over-
head, and finally settling down on the edges of
the nests, others covering the eggs at once,
even picking the weeds from one another’s
homes to place on their own, — a habit pecu-
liar to the Cormorants. I found while tending
the duties of incubation, in another plate of:
Western Gulls, they would walk around the
nest, I suppose to see if it was in trim for “hav-
ing their picture took,” like a country lass.

I use for general work of this character a
medium plate, not too quick in its action, for
a better success is had in handling the devel-
opment of it.

Detective cameras can be had now all the
way from ten to a hundred dollars or more. I
will give a description of mine for the benefit
of the O. & O. readers. Cost complete with
one double plate-holder, $37. 50 (made to order),
and I would not give it for the best hundred
dollar outfit in the market. It is made of Span-
ish cedar, polished, 8% inches in height, same
in depth, 6 % wide, a focus range of 2% inches
(outside of that is always in focus, a distance
indicator marked off from 3 to 25 feet; outside
of 25 feet is in focus on everything. Two field-
finders, one for uprights. The shutter Works
in the lens, regulated for any desired time by
a set of five notches (can be set for time ex-
posure). The sliding cap over the lens when
moved for exposure opens the finder at the
same time, and on seeing the image on the
finder, you know your lens is open ready for
the snap of the shutter. Maker of lens, R. D.

on the ground and watch the result; both
would commence a walk round. Beginning
with a twelve-foot circle they would gradually
close in, all the time making a noisy demon-
stration, and at the finish would attack the
despised object.

They in many ways showed marked signs of
affection, and I never knew them to quarrel
(except over squash bugs). If one found any
food he would always make it known to the
other. They were always together, and would
play like kittens. Each knew his name and
when I spoke to them would answer.

I had heard that if their tongues were split
they would talk. I could find no one who
knew about the matter, so concluded to try
the experiment myself. I cut the cord on the
under part of the tongue so as to allow them a
free swing (not splitting). They did not seem
to mind the operation but as soon as performed
they both marched about with beaks opened
and kept shaking their heads. I never suc-
ceeded in getting them to articulate a word
but certainly there was a change in their tone.
At times when a short distance off, they
sounded like a lot of children jabbering and
laughing, and from that day their “song” at-
tracted the attention of the neighbors.

I never shall forget the first snow-storm they
experienced. They had been roosting in the
woodshed. As I opened the door both came
to the sill, neither would venture out. First
one would put out his foot, touch the snow
and quickly withdraw it; then the other would
try it, and then they would both scold. They
kept this up for some time and I began to
think that I should have to throw them out
myself. Finally one made the break, quickly
followed by the other, and then the fun com-
menced. They evidently did not like the feel-
ing to their feet but were otherwise delighted.

One would lie down and the other turn him
over. They would roll, llutter, squawk and
chase each other in high glee. When the snow
became deep I again resorted to meal for then-
feed. And now comes the sad ending. When
they first began to walk they would go to the
igravel path and pick up small round stones.
These they would swallow, and after retaining
them for awhile would eject them, and I could
see these little piles of stones all over the
yard. They were evidently used as digesters,
and when discarded were held together by
efuse from the stomach. When the ground
was covered with snow they were unable to
obtain the stones. I neglected to look out for
this requirement, and one day in the early

My Two Pets.

It was a beautiful morning in May when

L and myself started out with the distinct!

view of making a new acquaintance. We had
carefully located our destination several days
previous, and judged that it was time for the
harvest. A few minutes’ walk brought us to
the outskirts of the city. At the forks of the
roads, in a small pine tree particularly ex-
posed to the view of all who passed, .was a
rustic home. Father and mother had evidently
let their pride overcome their usual cautious
nature. As we approached the spot a dark
object silently stole away and up popped two
bright-eyed heads which peered down curi-
ously at us with an expression that seemed to
say, Well, what are you two chaps up to?

L , who was the expert, climbed up in a

manner that would have done credit to his
undeveloped ancestors, and amid protestations
that made the welkin ring from above, and
excited cautions to point them the right way
from below, dropped them in succession into
the outstretched hands of the writer. Placing
them in a basket we retraced our steps. A
temporary home was made by suspending an
old basket from a tree about four feet from
the ground. Once domiciled our attention
was occupied to their entertainment. During
the next four weeks we fed them continuously
on cooked meal, sawdust, and everything in
the line of insect life we could obtain: “in
those days we had little idea of the value of
entomological collections”; and our many
friends who called would occasionally drop in
marbles, jackknives and tops into their eter-
nally opened receptacles. Such appetites! It
was simply marvelous. They seemed to lead
a charmed life, and each experiment produced
but one result — a squawk for more. As the
days passed their ambition developed from
standing tiptoe in the centre of the basket to
balancing on the edge, till one day it culmin-
ated in a tumble to the ground. They became

very much attached to L and myself. They

would actually shriek and croak whenever we
appeared, and their demands required as much
attention as the running of an ornithological
magazine. I assure the reader they received
it, never in a wild state could they have been
such autocrats. Morning, noon and night it

was scratch tjravel for them. L retired in

disgust from the field and I helplessly became
their slave. As their coats assumed a glossy
black the primaries of the wings of one became
a yellowish-white, and led to his being nick-
named Spot, while the other we called Jack.

In manners, dispositions and accomplishments
the one was the reflection of the other.

Our first morning exercise would consist of
a visit to the garden. I would lift the leaves
of the squash vines and pick off the dark three-
cornered squash bugs “ to me the most detest-
able form of insect life,” and serve them one
at a time in turn. To show any partiality
meant a row. They would never visit the
vines except in my company, nor help tliem-

Dec. 1889.] AND OOLOGIST.

183

selves to these bugs. When I would retire to ,
the house for breakfast they would repair to
the flower garden afid amuse themselves by
picking the flowers, which they would carry
and lay in symmetrical rows on the concrete
walk. I have sometimes seen three or four
dozen blossoms of the dialetra carefully picked j
and arranged as if done by some child. They i
never destroyed the flowers and picked but
one blossom at a time. It often led me to
wonder if they have a similar taste when in
their wild state?

We were at first in fear that the numerous
cats would make short work of them, but such
fears were soon quelled. Woe to Thomas
when be crossed the line. The first appear-
ance of pussy was a signal for an onslaught
that would do credit to a Turk. Many a time
I watched the demonstration with amusement.
Pussy would evidently be taken by surprise
and seemed inclined to stand his ground; Jack
and Spot would start for him, flapping their
wings and cawing loudly, and without the |
least hesitation would pitch in. If pussy hesi-
tated there would be a rough and tumble with
claws and beaks; it would be entirely one-
sided, pussy offering no resistance and beating
a hasty retreat, leaving bunches of fur torn
from his back. Another object for attack was
the feet of my barefooted companions; they
had the advantage and seemed to realize it.

I of course would not allow my pets to bo hurt
and it was simply, get toes under cover. Let
me say just here that they can bite right
“smart,” when they took hold to puli away
generally meant that the tip of the bill would
bring the meat witli it. They never showed
any disposition to peck at hands or face and
they never in 'any way pecked at me.

One day I noticed both engaged in picking
up small stones which they would carry and
drop into a hole that had been dug for a post.
Upon examination 1 found that there was a
toad in the bottom, upon which they were
dropping the pebbles. Each time a drop was
made they would caw in high glee; it was a
clear case of amusement. They were experts
at playing catch. I would pick grapes and toss
to them and they would seldom fail to catch,
jumping for them when thrown too high.

On our wash-house were two boxes occupied
by Swallows. When they had no other en-
gagements on hand they would perch on these
boxes for hours at a time, standing guard to
keep the swallows away. Black was a very ir-
ritating color to them. It afforded a great
deal of amusement to us to throw a black hat

on the ground and watch the result; both
would commence a walk round. Beginning
with a twelve-foot circle they would gradually
close in, all the time making a noisy demon-
stration, and at the finish would attack the
despised object.

They in many ways showed marked signs of
affection, and I never knew them to quarrel
(except over squash bugs). If one found any
food ho would always make it known to the
other. They wore always together, and would
play like kittens. Each knew his name and
when I spoke to them would answer.

I had heard that if their tongues were split
they would talk. I could find no one who
knew about the matter, so concluded to try
the experiment myself. I cut the cord on the
under part of the tongue so as to allow them a
free swing (not splitting). They did not seem
to mind the operation but as soon as performed
they both marched about with beaks opened
and kept shaking their heads. I never suc-
ceeded in getting them to articulate a word
but certainly there was a change in their tone.
At times when a short distance off, they
sounded like a lot of children jabbering and
laughing, and from that day their “song” at-
tracted the attention of the neighbors.

I never shall forget the first snow-storm they
experienced. They had been roosting in the
woodshed. As I opened the door both came
to the sill, neither would venture out. First
one would put out his foot, touch the snow
and quickly withdraw it; then the other would
try it, and then they would both scold. They
kept this up for some time and I began to
think that I should have to throw them out
myself. Finally one made the break, quickly
followed by the other, and then the fun com-
menced. They evidently did not like the feel-
ing to their feet but were otherwise delighted.

One would lie down and the other turn him
over. They would roll, flutter, squawk and
chase each other in high glee. When the snow
became deep I again resorted to meal for their
feed. And now comes the sad ending. When
they first began to walk they would go to the
gravel path and pick up small round stones.
These they would swallow, and after retaining
them for awhile would eject them, and I could
see these little piles of stones all over the
yard. They were evidently used as digesters,
and when discarded were held together by
refuse from the stomach. When the ground
was covered with snow they were unable to
obtain the stones. I neglected to look out for
this requirement, and one day in the early

1 777 - The Contradictory Crow. Editorial. Ibid., June 27, p. 465.

Notice of investigations by the Department of Agriculture as to the
Crow’s ben efici al and in j urious qualities. POP, & Stream. Vol. 32

1272. Crows and Chickens. By George Green. Ibid., No. 23, June 4,

P- SSI- — A Crow captures and flies away with a young chicken.

— American Field. XXVII

1750. Crozvs and Poison Ivy. By W. B. Barrows. Ibid March u n

__ 151- — Sca ttering the seed. FOT, & Stream, Vol. 3 fi 4 ' 1

Young Oologist. I5S9- Interesting Happenings. By W. G. T[almadge], Ibid.

—Habits of Crow and Spotted Sandpiper.

1208. What the Crow Eats. By IT 1 ! Stark TAW m
14, P- 24S. (See also note under same heading l,v N f N °' March
14H. Missouri River Crow Roosts. By W. Edgar Tayfor. US ywrf ^ Wean Fl«l« XXIII
. 12, Dec., 1887, pp. 1123, 1124,

22 -Ank,VTI .Ton
i 896 .p:» 3 . an -

‘CWs Seeking Wa ter” (p. 65 ), by N. B.~Witeter •

For. & Stream, VoLic

Ibid., No. 16, April

'

839. What the Crow Eats. By R. J. W. Ibid., Oct. 4, p. 321. —Ver-
dict against the Crow. American Field, XXII

1211 What the Crow Eats. By Frank Felkimn.

is. p. 367 . jAmencan Field, XXIII

146. An unlucky Crow. Editorial, on the authority ot George V. Vote.

Ibid., XV, p. 85. — Crow caught by a Goshawk. TPo,.. As Hfo’an.m
975. Washington Crows. Anon. Atlantic Monthly , Vol. L.III, No.

318, April, 1884, pp. 580, 581. — A graphic account of their flight in the
morning from their roosting-place to their feeding grounds, and their
return at night.

1275. The Senses of Sight and Smell. By ‘Birdo.’ Ibidl, No. 5, July

30, p. 102.— On the sense of smell in Crows and Buzzards. (See also

„ Ihld o No. 10, Sept. 3, p. 223, and No. 16, Oct. 15, p. 367.)

American Field, xxvm

574 - Intelligence of the crow. By S. KneelanH // v/ x-
— On Crows carrying stones into the air in H • N °' I3 ' P ’ 359 ’

them upon intruders. Voi«I 611 C aws ancJ dropping

580. Intelligence of the crow. Bv C C auk A „ .

576. -Carrying mussels into the air in their beaks f p /*“*’’■ N °' 2 °’ P ’

stones. SotAQOe. Vol. I ‘ ‘ nd dropping them on

I

3

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Distribution of New England Birds. -
A Reply to Dr, Brewer. h.A. Purdie.

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Reminiscences of the Early Life of a Tame Ct

Hawkey© Ora, & Oologist, Vol. i. Ko-

lb id..

1935

43 - 44 -

841. What the Crow Eats. By F. L. P. Ibid., Nov. 8, p. 440.—
Record of the killing of ‘fifteen hundred’ in one hunt, at Muldon, Miss.

V

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American Field. XXII

Utility of the Crow. By V. ii. a.

iota., p. 424. $■£

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A Crow \_Corvus americanus] Cracking Clams. By S. Lockwood.

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American Naturalist, Vol. XIX, April, 1885, p. 4 07--By dropping them b

on a fence.

S43. What the Crow Eats. By Charles Aldrich. Ibid., Nov. 22, p.
488. — In behalf of the Crow, and criticising the wholesale slaughter men-
tioned by ‘F. L. P.’ (see above, No. 841). American Field. XXII

1399. Crow Roosts and Roosting Crows. By Samuel W. Rhoads.
Ibid., No. 8, Aug., 1886, pp. 691-701 ; No. 9, Sept., 1886, pp. 777-787-

Naturalist* XX

577. Intelligence of the crow. By Jos. M. Wade. Ibid., No. 16, p.
458 - — Tame Crows and Ravens observed to use their beaks and not their
claws in transporting objects. Science* Yoi«.I
588. Prehensile feet of the crow. By S. Kneeland. Ibid., JNo. 30, pp.
265,266. — Instances adduced of Crows using their feet, as well as then-
bills, in seizing and carrying objects. Science, Y0I1U
845. What the Crow Does Eat. By M. G. Ellzey, M. D. Ibid.,
Dec ’ r 3 > P- .561.— Stronjr charges against the utility of the Crow.

Field. XXII

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J. 8. CANFIELD,

POST OFFICE BOX 860,

Bridgeport, Conn

FIELD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS, MONTH OF

190 /

•r

COLLECTION OF

A. O. U. NO.

SET MARK

/AfO
3 -

<S~ /for

NAME:

SijAc**

Date when complete set
was taken,

Year.

/fa/

Date when nest
noti

and birds first
ced.

Condition of nest:

Date when a

Month.

gain noticed.

Day.

Condition :

Contents:

/ ^

Contents:

/ —

' Best Collecting Date.

The preceding Win ter l !> e Sprin

Incubatiorfez/rftxLcJ
Locality

Month.

Day.

z — yur .

tOo T<2<J2HC<J

_ Zip /p s

ldentificatioiy/QPa ^^cZ otf tpiA/Zcf ■■■.■■■
No. Eggs in set fa) A/x&r

Usual No. fr > S' ■

Special notes on set

Nest'No. Exchanged with Set No.

Height from ground. Diameter, inside

NEST: Typical f. ■;■;■■

outside Depth, inside outside .

C &*>*>-£/

New nest built by the birds f old nest of

How situated SiCt-r

. — > // l

/, s/CZsa ,

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Kind of tree or bush, etc., .L,™ sf . " - -p, rU> - /-> -

General character of vicinity ^tx/

Material of foundation/<zAc.eA*>gx^e^Ac**^&*pf 3 ^

Inner Lining of Nest Off ^A/^rAc/xo/C^AA^i//

Outer covering $ Shape of nest hollow ?

OBSERVATIONS.

Collected

No /&/&U Duplicate Kept.

*3

Ware ham, Mass

Pish Grows, C criyv-i^o

When Mr. Miller and I were at Martha's Vineyard this simmer
we saw three fish Crows and I was positive about them, and Miller
although he never saw the bird before, was as positive as I, I am
very familiar with the bird. They were flying over the big pond
at West Tisbury.

Outram Bangs (letter Aug, 7, 1892.)

_ Auk, XIV, Jan. , 1897, p. / o o .
Usnx^JL Vou^ ^

I % ‘jfa-

Corvus ossifragus— On the 9 th of June a Fish Crow was taken in
Spi ingfield. This bird has often been reported as having been seen here,
but this is the onlv instance where its r irpcAiifo liiw> « — j v

IZ/Cw - . it/^1 fisuLAM-aLux- _

Corvus ossifragus, Wils. On the morning of March 16th, 1875,
I saw a bird of this species flying swiftly over our place in Cam-
bridge. It was pursued by at least twenty-five or thirty of our
common species, ( Corvus Americanus ), and at each renewnal of
their attacks gave utterance to its peculiar and unmistakable
notes. Having thoroughly familiarized myself with its voice
and motions in the South, where it is abundant, I feel confidant
that I could not in this instance have made any mistake. The
very fact of its having drawn the angry attention of so many
common crows, at a season too when their gregarious habits are
given up for more social relations, proves that it was to them
an object of novelty and one deemed worthy of suspicion and
hatred, I am not aware that any such feeling' is maintained
when the two species come together in numbers ; but however
this may be matters little, as our bird habitnally treats all sus-
picious strangers in a like manner, and the collector is not sel-
dom indebted for a rare hawk or owl to the watchful eye and
clamorous alarum of this sable sentinel.

Bull, N.Q.O. I, April, 1870. p. .

Capture of a Fish Crow ( Corvus ossifragus) at Wareham, Massachu-
setts. — Inasmuch as my record (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, I, 1876, p. 19) of a
Fish Crow seen at Cambridge, March 16, 1875, has been treated with
wholesome caution — not to say incredulity — by several recent writers on
New England birds, it gives me pleasure to present a second and quite un-
impeachable instance of the occurrence of the species in Massachusetts.
This time the bird was actually taken at Wareham, July 16, 1884, by Mr.
E. A. Bangs, in whose collection the specimen is now preserved, and to
whom I am indebted for the following account of its capture :

“I was fishing with my brother in Tihonet Pond and, as usual on such
occasions, had my gun with me. While crossing the pond we saw two
birds sitting on a tree near the mouth of a brook. From their actions I
thought at first that they were Pigeons, but on getting nearer made out
that they were black and resembled small Crows. We approached them
with all possible caution, but they flew before we got within sixty yards.
I brought down one, when the other circled over it for a moment, but it
escaped before I could reload the gun (a single barrel). The one I killed
proved to be a female in full plumage.” — William Brewster, Cambridge ,

provei

Mass.

Auk, 4, April 1887. P. /(oX ■

Corvus ossifragus. — On the tenth of last April a Fish Crow was seen
in Forest Park in Springfield. Only on very rare occasions do representa-
tives of this species of bird come up the Connecticut valley as far as this
point. While the bird in question was not taken, a very close inspection
was had, and the observers were guided to the vicinity of the bird by the
easily identified notes that it uttered.

< 4 <xAxxx/- Oct. *9/4- fa. 6 W-

Distribution of New England Birds. -
A Beply to Dr. Brewer. H. A. Pv.rdie.

Corvus ossifragus. Fish Crow. — “ Stratford.” Conn. , Linsley (1. c.).
<i A n occasional visitor along the southern coast of the State of Massachu-
setts.” (J. A. Allen, 1. c.) “Very rare visitor in summer” to Massachu-
setts. (E. A. Samuels, Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of Mass., in
Rept. of Sec. Board of Agriculture of Mass, for 1863.) “ A rare summer
visitor, chiefly along the more southern portions of the coast” of New
England. (Coues, Proc. Ess. Inst., V, 1868.) “Coast of the United States,
from New England to Florida.” (Coues, Birds of the Northwest.) And
now, as confirmatory of the above, Mr. Brewster gives an instance of his
seeing it in Cambridge, March 16, 1875. (See this Bulletin, Vol. I, p. 19.)

* Bull. N. O.C. 2, Jan., 1877. p.

The Fish Crow ( Corvus ossifragus) in Connecticut. — I have the pleas-
ure of recording a few notes on the Fish Crow in this State. For several
years I have detected birds of the Crow family along the shore, which,
from the notes, method of flight, and apparently smaller size almost con-
vinced me they were Fish Crows, but until this season had no opportunity
to verify the belief. On the loth of May I killed a fine specimen in an
extensive tract of swampy woods bordering a salt marsh in Stratford, and

saw two nth*=»rc fKo <-1-

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Oou»ral Notes

Fish Crows ( Corvus ossifragus ) were observed in small numbers early
in March, having been rare the preceding winter, if present at all. The
morning of March 26, which was warm and clear, they were very common
in certain districts, compelling attention by their discordant voices and
unusual numbers, evidently fresh arrivals for the most part. They were
particularly noticeable until midsummer when they gradually became
silent and inactive. Even until May 1 flocks of twenty or thirty were
occasionally seen; soon after, however, they were reduced to groups of a
few unmated or barren individuals, and widely dispersed, breeding birds.
Much more suspicious than the common species, they force themselves
upon the attention long before the nest is in sight, in most cases in this
vicinity. April 29, at Fairfield, one sat by a nest eighty feet from the
ground, and confessed ownership of its young in the latter part of May.
On May 12 I took a set of four fresh eggs from a nest seventy-five feet
above the ground. This had been commenced in April, and its com-
pletion delayed at least two weeks. May 16 I took five nearly fresh eggs
of the Fish Crow and one of the Robin from a nest near the summit of
an isolated white pine tree in a recent clearing of hardwood growth. Tall
timber near by seemed to them less attractive. The female being shot,
its mate remained sorrowfully calling for several days, when it again
mated and probably met with better success, as they could be seen there
till July. A set of five eggs was taken at Mt. Vernon, New York, May
15, 1888, from a nest fully sixty-five feet from the ground, in low, wet
woods. They were somewhat common there at that time.

Auk X, Jan , 1803. p.89.

Corvus ossifragus. Fish Crow. — “ Stratford,” Conn. , Linsley (1. c.).
“ An occasional visitor along the southern coast of the State of Massachu-
setts.” (J. A. Allen, 1. c.) “Very rare visitor in summer” to Massachu-
setts. (E. A. Samuels, Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of Mass., in
Eept. of Sec. Board of Agriculture of Mass, for 1863.) “ A rare summer
visitor, chiefly along the more southern portions of the coast” of New
England. (Coues, Proc. Ess. Inst., V, 1868.) “Coast of the United States,
from New England to Florida.” (Coues, Birds of the Northwest.) And
now, as confirmatory of the above, Mr. Brewster gives an instance of his
seeing it in Cambridge, March 16, 1875. (See this Bulletin, Vol. I, p. 19.)

* Bull. N.O.C. 2, Jan., 1877. p. 'J.

The Fish Crow ( Corvus ossifragus ) in Connecticut. — I have the pleas-
ure of recording a few notes on the Fish Crow in this State. For several
years I have detected birds of the Crow family along the shore, which,
from the notes, method of flight, and apparently smaller size almost con-
vinced me they were Fish Crows, but until this season had no opportunity
to verify the belief. On the loth of May I killed a fine specimen in an
extensive tract of swampy woods bordering a salt marsh in Stratford, and
saw two others at the same time ; the latter, being highly excited at the
disappearance of the other, circled about some time calling loudly but
finally quieted without offering a shot. Many times afterward I saw the
birds, and others, seeing no less than four at one time (May 29), all mature
birds. The one secured, although a male, showed evidence of having
assisted in incubation, but owing to the dense and almost impassable
nature of this swamp no nest was found.

In Fairfield, a pair was seen many times, and a nest found before it was
entirely finished, but I watched them so persistently that they soon de-
serted. They must have reared young elsewhere, as subsequently on sev-
eral occasions previous to the middle of June they exhibited much alarm
at my approach, circling about overhead by the hour in a highly vexed and
tireless fashion, following me sometimes for half a mile. Although I saw
no young I need no better evidence than their actions to convince me that
they were breeding.

Linsley in his ‘Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut’ gave the Fish
Crow as occurring at “Stratford,” but added no further remarks. Within
one or two years others have been taken here, of which no record has been
published. It is not common, but it may be called not a rare bird, and I
think has been largely overlooked from its resemblance to Corvus ameri-
canus. I feel confident the species also winters here, as I have several
times seen what certainly appeared to be Fish Crows, feeding on the sand
bars at low tide, retiring to the woods at high tide, and never associating
with the common species. — Edwin H. Eames, Bridgeport , Connecticut.

Much more suspicious than the common species, they force themselves
upon the attention long before the nest is in sight, in most cases in this
vicinity. April 29, at Fairfield, one sat by a nest eighty feet from the
ground, and confessed ownership of its young in the latter part of May.
On May 12 I took a set of four fresh eggs from a nest seventy-five feet
above the ground. This had been commenced in April, and its com-
pletion delayed at least two weeks. May 16 I took five nearly fresh eggs
of the Fish Crow and one of the Robin from a nest near the summit of
an isolated white pine tree in a recent clearing of hardwood growth. Tall
timber near by seemed to them less attractive. The female being shot,
its mate remained sorrowfully calling for several days, when it again
mated and probably met with better success, as they could be seen there
till July. A set of five eggs was taken at Mt. Vernon, New York, May
15, 1888, from a nest fully sixty-five feet from the ground, in low, wet
woods. They were somewhat common there at that time.

Connecticut, June, 1893,

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On May 12, 1901, I was fortunate enough to find a small colony of Fish
Crows (Corvus ossifragus ) nesting on one of the headlands jutting into
Long Island Sound, in the vicinity of New London and within sight of the
Watch Hill summer hotel, on the Rhode Island border. On further inves-
tigation I found 2 nests containing 5 eggs each ; 1 nest containing 4 eggs ;

1 nest containing 3 eggs; 1 nest containing 4 young (a day or two old).

On Nov. 10, I noted five individuals of the colony and shall observe if
they winter so far east of their usual range. Mr. J. B. Canfield of Bridge-
port, speaks of a small colony in his vicinity also.

Auk, XIX, Jan., 1902 , p- XSk JT rv ] &n ^

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Corvus ossifragus. Fish Crow. — As will be seen from the following
remarks, there is no doubt that a pair of these birds have been in the vi-
cinity during the past season. I first noticed them on February 24, being
attracted by their small size, and for several weeks thereafter they were
often seen, their peculiarities of note and habit at once distinguishing
them from the common Crow.

Their favorite resort seems to be a growth of tall and partially decayed
locusts bordering a fresh-water pond, and on two of these trees, standing
together somewhat apart from the others, the birds were to be found al-
most every morning, but, owing, to their shyness and the openness of the
ground, I was unable to approach within gunshot. In alighting they
usually chose the very topmost branches of the trees, and when approached
manifested their suspicion by a restless and excited motion of the wings,
which appeared to be more pointed than in the more stoutly built
C. americanus. Their note was an abrupt, expressionless croak, usually
delivered singly and at regular intervals. Though other Crows were often
seen in the vicinity, this pair kept aloof by themselves, and several times
I saw them chased by a clamorous party of their larger relatives. Latterly
they have been rarely noticed, and then always singly, thus indicating that
they are breeding in the vicinity.

Bun. N. O.O. 3 , July, 1878 , p. •

Motes, Shelter Island, N.Y.

W. W. Worthington.'

was a female, and very^ame °" Uth !s wl,icl1

brought her down with Hharg of TsZ 7!^

are the dimensions • Length ® h ot Po ”°wing

bill, (culmmvTl.go'^Tamis^ ^

claw, 2.03 inches. ’ " ’ 1,82 ’ IoI >g es t toe and

C>& 0. X, May. 18^5, p,

The Fish Crow ( Corvus ossifragus, Wils.), on Lons Island. - On the
17th Ju y, 1873, I shot a fine female of this species near Rockaway, L. I
The bml was flying around, but kept apart from a flock of common Crows
m the vicinity. The bird is not mentioned in Giraud’s “ Birds of Long
Island although Samuels, in “ Birds of New England,” says, « I under-
stand that it has been taken on Long Island.” — C. H. Eagle

[These two recent captures of the Fish Crow by Messrs.' Eagle and
Roosevelt (see above p. 46) confirm the statement made long since by De
Kay, that they are occasionally seen on the shores of Long Island, but
are generally confounded with the Common Crow” (New York Zool. Pt.
I, 1844, p. 135), which seems to have hitherto been the basis of all refer-
ences to its occurrence in that locality, and, in connection with Linsley’s

vTVr rvMTT f Stratf0rd) Conn - Journ - Sci - “d Arts,
v i a l /f 43 ’ , P ' 26 °^’ ° f ltS P resvmed occurrence in Southern New
ngland. Although recently observed by Mr. Brewster in Cambridge
Mass (see this Bulletin, Vol. I, p. 19), there appears to be as yet no un-
questioned record of its capture in New England, where it doubtless
occasionally occurs. — J. A. Allen.]

Bull. N. O.O, 3, Jan., 1878. p. y?.

The Capture of several Rare
York. — 1 . Corvus ossifragus, Y
was walking up from the river, m
singular utterance of a Crow that si
house. Its note was a hollow, gutt
the common species ( Corvus americ
for several moments, but as I had ii
Crow, I passed on, attributing this
uncommonly strong emotion, — per
I had spoiled, not far from that ph

this conclusion as satisfactory, I sh
stance, had not the bird itself acted
sion. It flew before me, and aligh
side of the highway, where it cr
reached the highway before climbij
the Crow had again taken flight, a]
direction, I knelt behind the wall,

I , ventured to look out, I saw the 1
Soon it approached me, but soarin
directly overhead, I fired ; it fell tc
and struggling violently all the disl
surprised and delighted to find a fi
This is, I believe, the most northeif
in the State, though they have be
friend, Mr. Theodore Rooseveldt, in

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Notes, Shelter Island, N.Y.

W, W. Worthington." ' J

wa 8 a Ie ma >e, aad ve ^ ™

brought her down with a charge of No HhoV'T n
are the dimensions : Length Ktsu. °‘ S ' 8hot blowing

««.• bill, (culmenTfs^ 1 ^’ ^ ’. 3 , 3 ' "*?• ^
claw, 2.08 inches. -> 1.S2, longest toe and

O.& O. X May. 1885, p, ^

_J[ H ® f ISH ^ R0W ( Corvus'osdfragus , Wils.), on Long Island. - On the
It th July, 1873, I shot a fine female of this species near Rockaway, L I
The bird was flying around, but kept apart from a flock of common Crows
m the vicinity. The bird is not mentioned in Giraud’s “ Birds of Long
Isiand although Samuels, m “ Birds of New England,” says, “ I under-
stand that it has been taken on Long Island.” C. H. Eagle

[These two recent captures of the Fish Crow by Messrs' Eagle and
Rooseveit (see above p. 46) confirm the statement made long since by De
Kay, that they are occasionally seen on the shores of Long Island but
are generally confounded with the Common Crow ” (New York Zook Pt.
II, 1844, p. 135), which seems to have hitherto been the basis of all refer-
ences to its occurrence in that locality, and, in connection with Linsley’s
record of its occurrence at Stratford, Conn. (Am. Journ. Sci. and Arts,

T?° l 1 *, ? 3 ’ , P ' 260 ^’ of lts P resumed occurrence in Southern New

ngland. Although recently observed by Mr. Brewster in Cambridge
Mass (see this Bulletin, Yol. I, p. 19), there appears to be as yet no un-
questioned record of its capture in New England, where it doubtless
occasionally occurs. — J. A. Allen.]

Bull. N. O.O, 3. Jan., 1878. p, yf.

The Capture op several Rare Birds near West Point, New
York. — 1. Corvus ossifragus, Wilson. On the 7th of May, 1877, as I
was walking up from the river, my attention was attracted to the very
singular utterance of a Crow that sat on an oak-tree in front of Mr. Pell’s
house. Its note was a hollow, guttural croak, quite unlike the cawing of
the common species ( Corvus americanus). I regarded the bird curiously
for several moments, but as I had never before heard the note of the Fish
Crow, I passed on, attributing this singular vocal demonstration to some
uncommonly strong emotion, —perhaps it was a parent bird whose nest
I had spoiled, not far from that place, several days previous. Accepting

this conclusion as satisfactory, I should soon have forgotten the circum-
stance, had not the bird itself acted in such a manner as to dispel the illu-
sion. It flew before me, and alighted upon a tree far over on the other
side of the highway, where it croaked most dismally. When I had
reached the highway before climbing over the stone-wall, I noticed that
the Crow had again taken flight, and as it was [flying somewhat in my
direction, I knelt behind the wall, hoping thus to obtain a shot. When
I ,ventured to look out, I saw the bird soaring in [circles not far away.
Soon it approached ine, but soaring very high in the air. When it got
directly overhead, I fired ; it fell to the ground, close beside me, reeling
and struggling violently all the distance. When I reached it I was both
surprised and delighted to find a fine female example of the Fish Crow.
This is, I believe, the most northerly record of the capture of this species
in the State, though they have been taken on Long Island, where my
friend, Mr. Theodore Rooseveldt, informed me he took a single specimen

O . t yy. if.

Bull. N.O. C, 3, Jan. ,1878. p, */&

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|. ’ The birds which possessed the greatest inter-
est for me were the Fish Crows ( Corpus ossif ra-
rjus), they were the most abundant of all species
occupying the island, and scarcely a coniferous
tree but has one of their nests. They build alike
on the coast and meadow trees and their hoarse
caw, caw is continuous while one is in their ter-
ritory. Though my visit was at too late a day
to secure many of their eggs, I managed to
take an elongated set of three from a deserted
!l nest, and one incubated set of four which I
j saved with care.

The trees upon which they build are readily
climbed, the nests are generally near the tops
and seem to be better made structures than
those of our American Cr(rw(Corvus frugivorus),
being warmly lined with the fur of the wild
cattle which until lately were very abundant
! on this place. The eggs are exact miniatures of

the American Crow’s, and could be easily iden-
tified by their smaller size alone.

The birds become very noisy when their
nests are examined, and it is not an uncommon
thing for the robber to find the entire commun-
ity flying boisterously overhead. As the con-
iferous trees are numerous, and the fish
supply inexhaustible, it is not probable that
this island will be deserted by them for a long
time, even in the face of improvement. The
old resident fisherman told me that some of
these birds remained all winter, seeking shelter
at night in the giant evergreens just in the wake
of the sand dunes, where lie has seen as many
as fifty birds huddled together on one tree in
the winter twilight. I found four young in
most nests examined May 25, and some nests
deserted by the young. The eggs are prob-
ably deposited by April 15 to 25, and the
oologist who would visit this island at that
time could make a rich collection of these
eggs.

diM. r

XW . • 2- •

• '

Zekega on the Northern Range of the Fish Grow. 205

NOTES ON THE NORTHERN RANGE OF THE FISH CROW
( CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS ), WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF ITS
HABITS.

BY LOUIS A. ZEREGA.

In speaking of the Fish Crow, Dr. T. M. Brewer says * that
“ Mr. Lawrence is confident that it never occurs farther north than
Squan Beach, in New Jersey.” That this opinion is incorrect is
evident from the following facts. Eight specimens were shot by
Mr. E. B. Keeler at his home near Seabright, Monmouth County,

New Jersey ; these were kindly presented to me by Mr. Keeler, to

whom I express my sincere thanks for this as well as many similar

favors. Three Fish Crows have been captured by Mr. Robert
White along the shore of Sandy Hook Bay, between the Highlands
of the Navesink and Sandy Hook. This species has also been found,
on several occasions, north of Sandy Hook. Mr. Edgar A. Mearns
killed a beautiful female at Highland Falls, N. Y., on the Hudson
River, on the 7th of May, 1877, as recorded in this Bulletin (Yol.
Ill, No. 1, pp. 45, 46) for January, 1878. In the same issue of the
Bulletin (p. 47), Mr. Clarence H. Eagle records the capture of a fine
female of this species near Rockaway, Long Island, on the 17th of
July, 1873. Mr. Theodore Roosevelt shot a male at Oyster Bay,
Long Island, on December, 30, 1874.f This makes the third au-
thentic record of its capture in New York ; and Mr. Eugene P. Bick-
nell noticed a pair that appeared at Riverdale, N. Y., on the Hudson,
on Feb. 24, 1878, and remained for some time in that vicinity. t
In Massachusetts, Mr. William Brewster saw a Fish Crow at Cam-
bridge on the morning of March 16, 1875, § and J. H. Linsley gave
it as occurring at Stratford, Connecticut. ||

It is not generally known that the most northern point at which
this species occurs in abundance is no farther south than Sandy
Hook, and the adjacent parts of the New Jersey coast. I have no

* History of North American Birds, Yol. II, 1874, p. 252.

t See “Notes on some of the Birds of Oyster Bay, Long Island,” March,

1879."

t See this Bulletin, Yol. Ill, No. 3, p. 131, July, 1878.

§ See this Bulletin, Yol. I, No. 1, p. 19, April, 1876.

|| Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, Yol. XLIV, No. 2, p. 260, 1843.

Bay state Ool$i 6 . Nesting of the Fish Crow. By C, S. Schick. Ibid., p. 24._A.tlk, Vll. Jan.1890. p.W-

38. Corvus ossifragus. Fish Crow. — Nests in trees near the sea ;
eggs four. April 20.

BuU.N.O.0, 3, Jan, 1883, p, 39