Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/525

CROW 521 smaller, the length being about 20 in. and the extent of wings 39 in. It is abundant in the northern parts of Scotland, and it occurs in all parts of Europe ; it prefers the coast, and the neighborhood of large maritime towns. Not more than five individuals are often seen to- gether ; it is quite as omnivorous as the pre- ceding species, though it prefers fish and mpl- lusks to the carcasses of larger animals ; it has sagacity enough, when it cannot open crabs and shellfish, to raise them into the air and drop them on the ground for the purpose of breaking them. It is very fond of perching upon a stone or tree in dull weather, and croaking for a long time, being answered by others that have stationed themselves at a distance ; this habit has been considered as indicative of rain. Its ordinary flight is slow and regular, and its gait upon the ground remarkably sedate and dignified. It is a peaceable bird, and is rarely attacked. It does not soar, nor skim the hill- Hooded Crow (Corvus comix). sides in search of food, but skulks along the low grounds in the vicinity of water ; it de- stroys many of the eggs and young of the plover and the red grouse and other birds fre- quenting the moors. They remain paired the greater part of the year, and almost always construct their nest on a rock near the sea; the eggs, usually five, are of a pale bluish green tint, marked, especially at the large end, with roundish spots of greenish brown and pale purplish gray. The hooded crow is generally found in different localities from the carrion crow ; and, when existing in the same dis- trict, the species keep separate, the latter be- ing much more shy and wild. It is said, and probably with truth, that the species breed together, producing hybrids. It must be dif- ficult to distinguish such hybrids from the present species, as the space occupied by the ash-gray varies greatly in different in- dividuals. IV. The fish crow (0. ossifragus, Wils.) is smaller than the common crow, hav- ing a length of only 16 in. and an extent of wings of 83 in ; the bill is nearly 2 in. and the tarsus If in. long. These two birds resemble each other in general appearance ; the bill in the fish crow is concave on the sides at the base, and flat in the middle ; the plumage in its general color is deep black, with blue and purple reflections above, and blue and greenish beneath ; the bill, tarsi, toes, and claws are black; the iris dark brown. This species is abundant in the southern states, in maritime districts, at all seasons ; it is occasionally seen as far north as New York in spring and sum- mer, returning to the south in winter. The fish crow is not persecuted like the common species, and is therefore quite familiar in its habits, approaching houses and gardens with- out fear, and feeding unmolested on the best fruits. Its favorite food, as its popular name implies, is fish; at early dawn the flock take wing for the seashore, in a very noisy manner ; they skim along the shallows, flats, and marsh- es in search of small fish, which they catch alive in their claws, retiring to a tree or stone to devour them. Like others of the genus, this species will feed on all kinds of garbage, on crabs and mollusks, on eggs and young birds, on the berries of various kinds of ilex and stil- lingia, on mulberries, figs, whortleberries, pears, and other ripe fruits ; they are in the habit of attacking on the wing the smaller gulls and terns, and of forcing them to give up their re- cently caught fish. They breed in February and March in Florida and South Carolina, and a month later in New Jersey ; the nests are usually made in the loblolly pine, on the ends of the branches about 30 ft. from the ground ; the nest and eggs resemble those of the com- mon crow, but are smaller. The note is differ- ent from that of the other species, resembling, according to Audubon, the syllables ha, ha, hae, frequently repeated ; at night they are still, in the morning very noisy, and in the breeding season not disagreeable nor monotonous. Their flight is strong and protracted ; they generally fly near the water, but occasionally rise to a great height. On the ground their movements are graceful ; and they are fond of opening and shutting their wings, a habit common to the other crows. They can disgorge their food like the vultures, when wounded and attempt- ing to escape ; they are easily approached and shot, and in winter, when their food is chiefly fruit, they are very fat, and considered good eating. The female is smaller, and the gloss on the plumage is less bright, with brown re- flections on the upper parts ; the length is 15 in. and the extent of wings 31 in. The habits of the crow.s seem to be the same in all coun- tries. The carrion crow of Ceylon detects the wounded deer, and discloses its retreat to the hunter by congregating on the neighboring trees. Whenever this bird sees an animal ly- ing on the ground, it soon collects all its com- rades in the vicinity ; one of the boldest hops upon the animal's body ; as this is not uncom-