CROWS. 201 



The male is about 9 inches in length ; and 14 in alar extent j at 

 first appearing black, glossed with dark green; with the tail some- 

 what rounded ; the plumage at length becomes more or less tinctured 

 with brown,, or skirted with ferruginous. This change in the plum- 

 age appears to be analogous to that which takes place in the Euro- 

 pean Starling. Iris silvery. — The fcvialc is of about the same size 

 with the male, and the young of the first season, of both sexes, are 

 nearly of the same color. 



CROWS. (CoRvus. Lin.) 



In these the bill is thick, straight at the base, curved towards the 

 point, and compressed and edged at the sides. Nostrils at the base 

 of the bill, open, and hidden in advancing hairs. The feet have 3 

 toes before, and 1 behind, almost entirely divided to their base ; the 

 tarsus longer than the middle toe. The wings sharp-pointed ; the 1st 

 primary short ; the 3d and 4th, longest. The tail of 12 feathers. 



These birds appear to have the sense of smell very perfect. Sus- 

 picious to excess they instinctively avoid all sorts of snares ; they 

 have also the cunning and caprice, to take and hide things which 

 are useless to them. They can be rendered amusing domestics; may 

 be taught to articulate words, and to obey the voice of their master. 

 All kinds of nourishment is acceptable to them ; and they sometimes 

 commit great waste, which they compensate in a measure, by the 

 destruction they make of the larvae of insects. The larger species 

 occasionally prey on small birds, and most of them have a great ap- 

 petite for eggs. They moult once a year. The sexes are scarcely 

 distinguishable from each other, and the young, after casting their 

 first feathers resemble the adult. They travel and unite always in 

 bands; and are spread over the whole globe. 



THE TRUE CROWS 



Have the bill thick and stout; the feathers of the head, incapable 

 of erection ; the tail moderate in length, even, or slightly rounded. 

 Their color is black, without any variegation. — They also walk 

 jgravely, and have an elevated and long sustained flight. 



