passerin;e. 307 



from the Conirostres with certainty and precision^ the differ- 

 ent genera of the family of the Crows, all of which have a 

 similar internal structure and external organs, only differing 

 in a (generally) greater size, which sometimes enables them 

 to hunt small birds : their strong beak is most commonly com- 

 pressed on the sides. 



These genera are three in number, the Crows, Birds of Pa- 

 radise, and the Rollers. 



CoRvus, Lin. 



The Crows have a strong beak, more or less laterally flattened, 

 nostrils covered with stiff feathers, which incline forwards- They 

 are very cunning, their sense of smell is extremely acute, and they 

 have, generally, a habit of purloining articles totally useless to 

 them, such as pieces of money, &c., and even of hiding them. 



We more particularly call Crows or Ravens, the large species 

 whose beaks are the strongest in proportion, and in which the ridge 

 of the upper mandible is the most arcuated. Their tail is either 

 round or square. 



C. corax,h.; Naum. 53, 1; Vaill. Afr. pi. 51.(1) (The Raven.) 

 Is the largest of the Passerinae which inhabit Europe. Its size 

 is equal to that of the Cock. Its plumage is entirely black, the 

 tail is rounded, and the back of the upper mandible arcuated 

 near the point. It is a more solitary bird than the other species, 

 flies well and high, scents carrion at the distance of a league, 

 aud feeds also on fruit and small animals. It sometimes carries 

 off poultry, builds on the tops of high trees or rocky cliffs, is 

 easily tamed, and may be taught to speak tolerably well. It 

 appears to be found in every part of the globe. In the north its 

 plumage is frequently varied by a mixture of white (Ascan. Ic. 

 Nat. pi. viii)j it is then the Corvus leucophseus, Temm., Vieill. 

 Gal. JOG. 



C. corone, L.j La Corneille; Enl. 495; Naum. 53, 2.(2) (The 

 Carrion Crow.) A fourth smaller than the Raven; the tail more 

 square, and the beak less arcuated above. 



C. frugilegus, L.; Le Freux; Enl. 484: Naum. 55. (The 

 Rook.) Still smaller than the preceding, with a straighter and 

 more pointed beak. The circumference of the base of the lat- 



(1) N.B. Enl. 495 appears to be nothing more than a C. corone, and 483 a 

 young Rook. M. Temminck thinks that the quoted fig. of Le Vaillant is a partic- 

 ular species peculiar to Africa, which he names C. montanus. 



(2) M. Temminck thinks there is a difference between the Crow of Europe and 

 that of the Cape (Vaill. 52,) which he calls C. segeium. 



