Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/524

 520 CROW common to all parts of the United States, as- sembling after the breeding season in large flocks, many of which remove to the southern states in winter. It builds its nests in thick swamps, or on the sides of steep rocks, as much concealed as possible; the period of breeding varies from February to June, ac- cording to latitude. The nest is made of sticks interwoven with grasses, plastered within with mud, and lined with soft roots, feathers, or wool ; the eggs are four to six, of a pale green- ish color, spotted and clouded with brownish green and purplish gray ; both sexes sit upon the eggs, and watch over their young with the tenderest care; in the southern states they raise two broods in a season. Several nests are often found near each other, and when any stranger approaches the community, the noise of the assembled multitude is almost deafening until the intruder retires. The young, when about to leave the nest, are considered in some localities tolerable food. The flight of the crow is swift, capable of being sustained a long time, and sometimes at a great height ; on the ground its gait is graceful and slow ; it often alights on the back of cattle, to pick out the worms from the skin. Their well known notes, " caw, caw, caw," are very discordant, espe- cially in early morning when they scatter into small flocks in search of food, and toward evening when the returning parties are select- ing their roosting places for the night. The crow is very courageous against its bird ene- mies, and will not hesitate to attack any ma- rauding hawk. It makes a very interesting pet, as it displays considerable intelligence and do- cility ; but its propensities are decidedly thiev- ish. Like many other birds of a black color, the crow is occasionally perfectly white. The sight of the crow is very keen; and by this sense, and not by the sense of smell, it is guid- ed in its search of food, and in the avoidance of its human enemies. When on excursions after eggs, which it carries away on the bill, it is often attacked and driven away, especially by the courageous king-bird. II. The Euro- pean or carrion crow (C. corone, Linn.) is larger than the preceding species, being from 20 to 22 in. long, with an extent of wing of 40 in. ; the bill is stronger, deeper, more convex on the sides, and the edges more inflected ; the feet and toes are larger and stronger, and the claws ro- bust in proportion. Were it not for its smaller size and some differences in the form of the feathers, it might be confounded with the ra- ven, as its proportions are about the same, the body being full and ovate, and the neck short and strong. The palate is flat and the tongue oblong, while in the American species the pal- ate is concave and the tongue narrower. The plumage is moderately full, compact, and very glossy ; the feathers of the hind neck are nar- row, with their points distinct, but in the Ame- rican bird they are broad, rounded, and so blended that the form of each is not easily traced ; the feathers of the fore neck are lance- olate and compact at the end, as in the raven, but in the American crow they are three times as broad, rounded, and entirely blended ; in other respects the plumage is alike in the two birds, the neck of the former being tinged with green and blue, but in the latter with a distinct purplish brown. From this de- scription it can hardly be doubted that the American and the European crow are distinct species. The female is similar to the male in color, but somewhat smaller ; the tints of the young have less of the metallic lustre. The carrion crow preys upon small quadrupeds, young hares and rabbits, young birds, eggs, Crustacea, mollusks, worms, grubs, and grains ; but, as its name imports, its favorite food is carrion of all kinds ; it often destroys young lambs and sickly sheep ; it is very fond of at- tacking parturient ewes, frequently killing both the mother and the young, tearing out the eyes, tongue, and entrails, in the manner of the vul- tures. Whatever its food may be, it is exceed- ingly vpracious. Unlike the American species, the carrion crow does not associate in large flocks, but is generally solitary or in pairs, ex- cept in breeding time, when a whole family will remain together for some weeks. Its flight is sedate and direct (hence the expression, " as the crow flies," for a straight line), and per- formed by regular flaps of the fully extended wings ; it does not soar to any great height, and prefers the open moors, fields, and shores to mountainous districts. Its gait is similar to that of the raven, and its cry is a croak quite different from the bark-like cawing of the American crow. It builds its large nest amid high rocks or on tall trees, and lays from four to six eggs of a pale bluish green color, spotted and blotched with dark brown and purplish gray ; these colors, however, vary consider- ably ; the eggs are about If in. long, and 1| in. in their greatest width. They not unfrequent- ly build in the neighborhood of farm houses, in order to be near any rejected offal, and watch their opportunity to pounce upon chickens or ducklings, and to steal eggs from any of the do- mestic fowls. The carrion crow is very easily tamed, and is capable of strong attachment ; its docility is great, and its memory astonish- ing ; its propensities are thievish ; like the ra- ven and the jackdaw, the carrion crow may be taught to imitate the human voice. Ac- cording to Temminck, this species occurs over all western Europe, but is rare in the east- ern parts. III. The hooded crow (0. comix, Linn.) has the head, fore neck, wings, and tail black, with purplish blue and green reflections ; the rest of the plumage is ash-gray tinged with purplish, the shafts being darker; the female is similar to the male, somewhat smaller, the black on the fore neck less in extent, and the gray of the back less pure ; the plumage of the young is black, with the exception of a broad band of dusky gray round the fore part of the body. This species, except in color, much re- sembles the carrion crow; it is somewhat