XXII. FAMILY CORVIDIE, (THE CROWS).
Genus Corms. Raven. Resident, now very rare or extinct: omnivorous. Audubon writea: The more intel ligent of our farmers are well aware that the raven deetroys numberlese ineects, grnbs, and worms: that he kills mice, moles, and rats whenever he can find them; that he will seize the weasel, the young, opossum. and the skunk; that, with the perseverance of a cat, he will watch the burrows of the fox, and pounce on the cubs. Yee, good reader, the fanner knows all this well, but he also knows his power, aud, interfere aa you may, with tale of pity or of truth, the bird is still a raven.—American crow. Resident, very abundant ; omni orou8. This more famil iar epitome of the raven is known to every one. Our crow feeds on frnits, seeds, and vegetables of almost every kind; it is equally fond of snakes, lizards, frogs, and other small reptiles. It looks upon various species of worms, grubs, and iosects as dainties; and, if hard pnshed by hunger, will devour even putrid carrion. It is fond of the eggs of other birds, and it plunders the fields of their superabundance. It is blamed for so doing, but seldom praised when it chases the thieving hawk from the poultry yard. With such a ledger it is olten difficult
for the farmer to settle the accounts with his tenant to mutual satisfaction crow. Resident, rare; omniv rons. The fishing habits of this crow lead it more abont the water, where it finds msny aquatic insects, reptiles, etc.; otherwise it is a mere epitome of its older brother. Genus Cyanara. Blue jay. Resident, common; om nivorous. This gay and gaudy hird has very much the dune habits as its more sombre relatives, the crows. Like them his orgsns of destructiveness and acquieitive nese are very large, without a sufficient balancing. power. He is both cruel and dishonest. He feeds indiscrimi nately on flesh, reptiles, insects, seeds and fruits.
Genus Ectopistes. Wild pigeon. Wandering; at times very abundant and gregarious; granivorous; feeds on beech mast, acorns. grains and seeds of various kinds. It sometimes attacks the newly sown g-rain of the farmer, and when the flock is large does much injury.
GretIll6 Zenaidura. Turtle dove. Resident. frequent; granivorous. It feeds on small acorns, various kinds of grains and seeds; also on the crake of the dogwood, holly, poke, etc.