Farley, Horsbrough and Dr. George of Red Deer, all declare that this species is increasing. Farley writes,—“No one knew this bird ten years ago and for the past few years a month does not pass that some one does not ask about it. I think this about its limit line as I never saw or heard of one farther north than ten miles from Camrose.”
100.★ =Cyanocitta cristata.= BLUE JAY.—Fairly common on the upper parts of the river but not seen below Camp 4, near Nevis. One specimen, Camp 1. Reported nesting by Horsbrough.
101. =Perisoreus canadensis.= CANADA JAY.—Spreadborough’s hypothetical record of this species at Red Deer is substantiated by Farley who says he found two nests of the Canada Jay ten miles east of Red Deer, the eggs from which he sent to W. E. Saunders of London, Ont. According to Oberholser’s determinations these birds should probably be referred to _P. c. canadensis_.
102. =Corvus corax.= RAVEN.—Farley says,—“The Raven is seen nearly every November at Red Deer. I have never seen them brought in except in early winter.”
103.★ =Corvus brachyrhynchos.= AMERICAN CROW.—Only fairly common in the narrow parts of the valley where the river is in closer proximity to cultivation. Below, where the valley is wide, and more arid conditions prevail, it was but occasionally seen. Young reports, at Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek after the middle of September, that they appeared in large flocks. The farmers about Camp 1 did not regard the crow as dangerous to crops but complained of the number of small chickens they kill and the duck nests they rob. Specimens from Camp 8½ and 11, also Morrin, October, 1916, Geo. Sternberg and Alix, April 24, 1914, Horsbrough. Amongst our prairie province specimens I can find little to substantiate the Western Crow, _hesperis_. The birds of smallest measurement in our collections come from Ottawa and Point Pelee, Ontario; Red Deer, Alberta; and Lillooet, British Columbia, whilst our largest specimens are from Ottawa and Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Even the averages from eastern and western Canadian specimens are too similar for the recognition of any subspecies. I therefore prefer to class these birds with the type form _brachyrhynchos_.