COB.VID.E THE CHOWS AND JAYS. 329 



FAMILY CORVID^E. THE CROWS AND JAYS. 



Primaries ten; the first short, generally about half as long as the second (or 

 a little more) ; the outer four sinuated on the inner edge. The nasal fossae and nostrils 

 usually more or less concealed by narrow, stiffened bristles (or bristly feathers), with 

 short appressed lateral branches extending to the very tip, all directed forwards (these 

 bristles occasionally wanting). Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, the sides undivided (except 

 sometimes below) and separated from the anterior plates by a narrow naked strip, some- 

 times filled up with small scales. Basal joint of middle toe united about equally to tho 

 lateral, generally for about half the length. Bill generally notched." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



The Corvidse constitutes a very strongly marked family or group 

 of the Oscines, the principal character being the separation of the 

 lateral and anterior scutellae of the tarsus by a narrow interval 

 which is devoid of smaller scales, the conspicuous nasal tufts (these 

 absent in a few genera) and the absence of an angle at the base of 

 the commissure, which is invariably present in the Icterldce and 

 Fringillidce. Some of the genera resemble gigantic Titmice Cyano- 

 citta corresponding to the genus Lopliophanes and Perisoreus to Parus. 

 The resemblance is, however, apparently a purely superficial one, 

 there being many important differences. Thus, "the feathers at the 

 base of the bill in the Jays, are bristly throughout, with lateral 

 branches reaching to the very tip. In Paridce these feathers are 

 inclined to be broader, with the shaft projecting considerably beyond 

 the basal portion, or the lateral branches are confined to the basal 

 portion and extended forwards. There is no naked line of separa- 

 tion between the scutellse on the outer side of tarsi. The basal 

 joint of the middle toe is united almost or quite to the end to the 

 lateral instead of half-way. The first primary is usually less than 

 half the second, instead of rather more ; the fourth and fifth pri- 

 maries nearly equal and longest, instead of the fifth being longer 

 than the fourth." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Two so-called sub-families of typical Cbrvidce are recognized, but 

 they are not very well characterized, on account of the evidence of 

 numerous intermediate forms. Taking the North American members 

 of the family there is, however, no difficulty in recognizing the two 

 pub-families, which may be defined as follows 



