FASSERES: CROWS, ETC. 



FIG. 191. 



163 



European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. 



cially in those of the Maryland Yellow-throat, several Flycatchers, 

 the Blue-bird, Chipping Sparrow, and Golden-crowned Thrush. The 

 egg is pale grayish-blue, sprinkled with umber-brown dots and short 

 streaks ; and it is a remarkable fact that it hatches before the eggs 

 of the bird in whose nest it is laid. No sooner has the young Cow- 

 bird hatched, than the foster-parents fly off to obtain food for it, and 

 hence their own eggs perish, and are at length thrown from the nest. 

 The young bird is cared for with all tenderness, and fed even long 

 after it has bsgun to fly about, and after it has become larger than 

 the foster-parents themselves. 



The Ravens, Crows, Rooks, Magpies, Jays, etc., are 

 insessorial birds which are relatively of large size, and 

 which are united into one family called the Corvidae. 

 They have a rather stont bill ; the nostrils are covered 

 with tufts of bristly feathers ; they have ten primaries ; 

 twelve tail-feathers ; and the tarsi have each a scutellum 



