CANADA JAY. 275 HAB.--Northern New England, Michigan and Canada, northward to Arctic America. Nest, on the branch of an evergreen, composed of twigs and grass, lined with feathers. Eggs, four or five, variable, usually grayish-white, marked with yellowishbrown. The Indian name for this bird is Wis-Ka-Tjan, which pronounced by an English tongue sounds much like "Whiskey John." Through familiarity this has become "Whiskey Jack," the name by which the bird is best known in the districts he frequents. The Canada Jay is found in high latitudes, from Labrador to the Pacific coast. It is quite common in the District of Muskoka, where it breeds and is resident. I have also heard of one individual being taken at Oshawa, but have no record of its having been seen farther south in Ontario. In the "Birds of the North-West," Dr. Coues, quoting from Mr. Trippe, says: "During the warmer months the Canada Jay frequents the darkest forests of spruce, occasionally flying a little way above the trees. It is quite tame, coming about the mining camps to pick up whatever is thrown out in the way of food, and evincing much of the curiosity that is characteristic of the family. In winter its supply of food is very precarious, and it is often reduced to mere skin and bones. At such times it will frequently weigh no more than a plump sparrow or snowbird, and undoubtedly it sometimes starves to death. During the latter part of the autumn, its hoarse croaking is almost the only sound to be heard in the cold, sombre forests which lie near the timber line." This species is quite common in Manitoba, and has also been found in Northern Michigan and Minnesota, northward to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Regions, and also in Alaska. In the west it is rather less in size, and being slightly different in color also, it has been created into a subspecies, under the name of fumifrons. In the coast region of Labrador is another form, somewhat darker than the others, which has been separated and named nigricapillus. But although their names have been changed, their natures remain the same. All have the habit of taking eggs and young birds from the nests of other birds, and devouring them in sight of the agonized parents. They become very familiar about the camps of lumbermen and others who have occasion to toil in the woods. This habit is no doubt to a great extent the result of hunger, which in the winter time, when deep snow covers the ground, must be the greatest evil with which the birds have to contend. SUBFAMILY CORVINE. CROWS. GENUS CORVUS LINNÆUS. CORVUS CORAX SINUATUS (WAGL.). 199. American Raven. (486) Entire lustrous black; throat feathers acute, lengthened and disconnected. Length, about 2 feet; wing, 16-18 inches; tail, 10. HAB. Continent of North America, from the Arctic Regions to Guatemala, but local and not common in the United States east of the Mississippi River. Nest, on high trees or inaccessible cliffs, built of sticks with a lining of coarse grass, sea weed and wool. Eggs, four or five, greenish, dotted, blotched and clouded with purplish and blackish-brown. Few birds are so widely distributed over the face of the earth, and few have obtained so great a share of notoriety as the Raven, that "grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore." In. Southern Ontario it is now seldom seen. The specimen in my collection was obtained at St. Clair Flats some years ago, where it was reported as an occasional visitor in the fall. Wilson, speaking of this species, says: "On the lakes, and particularly in the neighborhood of Niagara Falls, they are numerous, and it is a remarkable fact that where they so abound the common Crow seldom appears. I had an opportunity of observing this myself in a journey along the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario during the months of August and September. The Ravens were seen every day, but I did not see or hear a single Crow within several miles of the lakes." Since the days of Wilson the case has been reversed, and any one travelling now round the lakes named will see Crows in plenty, old and young, but not a single Raven. They are said to be common in the rocky region of Muskoka, where they probably nest on the cliffs. They are believed to continue mated for life, and are often heard expressing their feelings of conjugal attachment in what to human ears sounds but a dismal croak. The Raven appears so seldom in Ontario that we have little opportunity for becoming acquainted with the habits of the bird. We find, however, that they are tolerably common in Manitoba, while in Alaska they seem to reach their centre of abundance. Referring to them, Mr. Nelson says: "Everywhere throughout the entire territory of Alaska, including the shores of the Arctic Ocean and Behring Sea, this bird is a well-known resident. Here, as in some more civilized regions, it bears a rather uncanny character, and many and strange are the shapes it assumes in the folklore of the natives of these far-off shores." Eskimos and Indians unite in accusing this bird of pecking out the eyes of new-born reindeer and afterwards killing them. That they are notoriously mischievous in robbing traps of bait, is well known throughout the fur countries, though the thief sometimes pays the penalty by getting a foot in the trap. Lütke tells us that "the Ravens are the brigands of Sitka. No poultry can be raised, as the Ravens devour the fledglings as fast as they appear, making only one mouthful of them. The porkers are too big to be overcome in the same manner, and the Ravens have to satisfy their greediness by keeping the pigs' tails close cropped. This is why the Sitka pigs have no tails." In spite of this ancient persecution, Mr. Dall assures us that the Sitka pigs of the present day have the caudal appendage of the usual length. Color, uniform lustrous black, including the bill and feet; nasal bristles about half as long as the bill; throat feathers, oval and blended; no naked space on cheeks. Length, 18-20; wing, 13-14; tail, about 8; bill, 1.75. HAB. North America, from the fur countries to Mexico. Nest, in trees, built of sticks and twigs, lined with moss, strips of bark and fine grass. Eggs, four to six, green, spotted and blotched with blackish-brown. While the Raven prefers to frequent the uncleared parts of the country, the Crow delights in the cultivated districts, where, in the opinion of the farmer, his services could well be dispensed with. Though exposed to continued persecution, he knows the range of the gun accurately, and is wide awake to the intention of all sorts of ambuscades planned for his destruction, so that he thrives and increases in number as the country gets more thickly settled. The Crows mostly leave Ontario at the approach of cold weather, but should the carcase of a dead animal be exposed, even in the depth of winter, it is curious to observe how quickly it will be visited by a few individuals of this species, which are probably remaining in sheltered parts of the woods, and have some means of finding out where a feast is to be had. Early in April the northern migration begins, and the birds may be seen daily, singly, in pairs, or in loose straggling flocks, passing toward the north-west. Much has been said and written in regard to the Crow and his relation to the farmer, but so far no very satisfactory conclusion has been drawn. It is matter for regret that the Crow was not included in the list of birds handed to Dr. Fisher to report upon, for we should then have had full details on the subject of his diet. More than likely he would have appeared among those whose good deeds balance the evil, for, though he takes eggs, chickens, sprouting corn, fruits and vegetables, he destroys immense numbers of mice, moles, grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers. He is subjected to continued persecution, but he is well able to take care of himself, and that he does so is evident by the increase which from year to year takes place in his numbers. In regions where he has not been molested, he comes about the dwellings much after the manner of the Canada Jay, and where the young are raised as pets they become quite familiar. Perhaps a limited check is needed to keep the species in its proper position. Male-In spring, black; cervix, buff; scapulars, rump and upper tail coverts, ashy-white; interscapulars streaked with black, buff and ashy; outer quills, edged with yellowish; bill, blackish-horn; feet, brown. Male in fall, female and young, entirely different in color; yellowish-brown above, brownishyellow below; crown and back conspicuously, nape, rump and sides less broadly streaked with black; crown, with a median and lateral light stripe; wings and tail, blackish, pale edged; bill, brown. The male changing shows confused characters of both sexes. Length, 64-7; wing, 33-4; tail, 2-3; tarsus, about 1; middle toe and claw, about 14. HAB.-Eastern North America to the Great Plains, north to Southern Canada, south in winter to the West Indies and South America. Breeds from the Middle States northward, and winters south of the United States. Nest, a cup-shaped hollow in the ground in a hay-field; lined with withered grass. Eggs, four or five, brownish-white, heavily blotched and clouded with chocolate-brown making the general appearance very dark. |