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SPECIES 3. CORPVUS COLUMBIdNUS.
                    CLARK'S CROW.
                    [Plate XX.-Fig. 2.]
                PEALE'S Museum, JV'o. 1371.
  THIS species resembles, a little, the Jackdaw of Europe (Cor-
vus monedula;) but is remarkable for its formidable claws, which
approach to those of the Falco genus; and would seem to inti-
mate, that its food consists of living animals, for whose destruc-
tion these weapons must be necessary. In conversation with
different individuals of Lewis and Clark's party, I understood
that this bird inhabits the shores of the Columbia, and the ad-
jacent country,in great numbers, frequenting the rivers and
seashore, probably feeding on fish; and that it has all the grega-
rious and noisy habits of the European species, several of the
party supposing it to be the same.
  The figure in the plate was drawn with particular care, after
a minute examination and measurement of the only preserved
skin that was saved; and which is now deposited in Peale's
Museum.
  This bird measures thirteen inches in length; the wings, the
two middle tail feathers, and the interior vanes of the next (ex-
cept at the tip) are black, glossed with steel blue; all the second-
aries, except the three next the body, are white for an inch at
their extremities, forming a large spot of white on that part,
when the wing is shut; the tail is rounded; yet the two middle
feathers are somewhat shorter than those adjoining; all the rest
are pure white, except as already described; the general colour
of the head, neck, and body, above and below, is a light silky
drab, darkening almost to a dove colour on the breast and belly;