HOODED CROW. 531 



of the head are rounded, of the hind-neck lanceolate and 

 rather blended ; of the rest of the upper parts ovate, rounded, 

 rather indistinct ; of the chin short, roundish, with separated 

 barbs, and a long bristle point ; of the throat ovato-lanceolate 

 and compact ; of the rest of the lower parts rounded and rather 

 compact, except on the abdomen, where they are loose ; on the 

 legs short, abrupt, and rather blended. The wings are long, 

 straight, much rounded ; the primary quills ten, straight, 

 tapering, the first half the length of the fourth and equal to the 

 ninth, the fourth longest, the third two twelfths of an inch, 

 shorter, the fifth about equal to the third, the second one inch 

 shorter than the fourth and equal to the sixth ; the second, 

 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth slightly cut out on the outer web ; 

 the first, second, third, and fourth on the inner. The secon- 

 dary quills twelve, large, slightly incurved, abruptly rounded 

 and acuminate. 



The bill, feet, and claws are glossy black ; the iris deep 

 brown. The general colour of the plumage is ash-grey tinged 

 with purplish, the shafts darker ; the head, the fore j^aii: of 

 the neck, the wings, and the tail black, glossed with purplish- 

 blue and green ; the secondary coverts and outer secondaries 

 with purple ; the alula, primary coverts, primaries, and tail 

 with green. 



Length to end of tail 20^ ; extent of wings 89 ; wing from 

 flexure 13 ; tail 7j ; wings 1^ shorter than tail ; bill along the 

 back 2/5, along the edge of lower mandible 2i ; tarsus 2^ ; 

 first toe i§, its claw |§ ; second toe 1, its claw /^ ; third toe 

 ly\, its claw j% ; fourth toe \l, its claw j%. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, somewhat 

 smaller, the black less extended on the fore-neck, the grey of 

 the back less pure. 



Length 19 inches ; extent of wings 38. 



Habits. — The Hooded Crow is very abundant in the He- 

 brides, the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and most parts of 

 the northern and middle divisions of Scotland ; but is rare in 

 the southern division, and gradually diminishes as we proceed 



M m 2 



