COW-BIRDS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 591 



placed in the fore part of the large nasal depression, which 

 forms a deep sinus in the base of the mandible, and is filled by 

 a membrane covered with short incurved feathers. The aper- 

 ture of the ear is rather large and circular. 



The feet are of moderate length or rather short. The tarsus 

 compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two longitudinal 

 plates forming a thin edge behind. The toes are four, articu- 

 lated on the same level ; the first directed backwards, stronger 

 than the second and fourth, which are about the same length ; 

 the third considerably longer ; all covered above w4th large 

 scutella, rather flat and granulate beneath ; the fourth or outer 

 united to the third as far as the second joint. The claws are 

 rather long, arched, much compressed, acute, their sides flat 

 with an obscure groove. 



The plumage is moderately full. The feathers at the base 

 of both mandibles are always very short, rather stifl", more or less 

 directed forwards at first, but incurved. The wings are of mo- 

 derate length, rather pointed, the first quill extremely small, 

 being scarcely a fifth of the length of the second, which is about 

 the same length as the third and fourth, but usually very 

 slightly shorter than the former, which is the longest ; the pri- 

 mary quilk are ten, narrowed towards the end ; the secondary 

 generally nine, broad and abruptly rounded or emarginate. 

 The tail is rather short, or of moderate length, slightly rounded, 

 of twelve broad feathers. 



The skeleton and digestive organs differ little from those of 

 the last family. The manners of the different species being 

 unknown to me by personal observation, I cannot give any 

 general account of them farther than that these birds are gene- 

 rally gregarious, feed principally on worms, larvae, insects, and 

 fruits, and breed in high places, or in holes and crevices. They 

 are easily domesticated, may be taught to pronounce words, 

 some of them to whistle tunes, and exhibit the same indications 

 of sagacity as the Crows. 



