ut the size of the Crow, and has the bases of
the neck feathers white. They are very abundant in some localities,
especially in southern Arizona. Their food consists chiefly of animal
matter, the same as the large Ravens, and they are not nearly as shy,
frequently feeding in camps upon refuse which is thrown out to them.
They build at low elevations in any tree, but preferably in mesquites,
making their nests of sticks and lining them with hair, leaves, bark,
wool or anything soft. During June they lay from four to six pale bluish
green eggs, generally sparingly spotted or scratched with dark brown and
drab. Size 1.75 x 1.20.

[Illustration 313: Pale greenish white.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish green.]
[Illustration right hand margin.]

Page 312

488. CROW. _Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos._

Range.--Whole of North America south of the Arctic Circle; most abundant
in eastern United States; rare in many localities in the west.

These birds, against which the hand of every farmer is uplifted, are
very shy and cunning; as is well known, they nearly always post a
sentinel in some tree top to keep watch while the rest of the flock is
feeding in the field below. In the fall and winter, large numbers of
them flock, and at night all roost in one piece of woods; some of the
"crow roosts" are of vast extent and contain thousands of individuals.
Crows nest near the tops of large trees, preferably pines, either in
woods or single trees in fields. Their nests are made of sticks and
lined with rootlets, and the eggs, which are laid in April or May, range
from four to seven in number, are a bluish or greenish white, sparingly
or very densely speckled, spotted and blotched with various shades of
brown and lilac. Size 1.60 x 1.15.

488a. FLORIDA CROW. _Corvus brachyrhynchos pascuus._

Range.--Florida.

This variety has a slightly shorter tail and wings than the last.

490. FISH CROW. _Corvus ossifragus._

Range.--Northwest coast from Oregon to Alaska.

This small Crow which is but 16 inches in length, is found only on the
coast, where they feed upon shell fish and offal. They nest, as do the
Ravens, either on ledges or in tree tops. The eggs resemble those of the
common Crow, but are smaller. Size 1.55 x 1.05.

489. NORTHWESTERN CROW. _Corvus caurinus._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north in summer to Connecticut.

From Virginia southward, this small Crow (length 16 inches) is more
abundant on the