484 VAGATORES. WANDERERS. 



these families, the Corvinse and Thremmaphilinae, that we have 

 representatives in Britain, and even of these not more than 

 eleven species, of which two only belong to the latter. The 

 general characters of these two groups will be found in their 

 proper places in the present volume. Of the order generally, 

 the following brief characters will suffice. 



The bill is stout, nearly straight, compressed towards the 

 end, tapering, pointed, sharp-edged, the upper mandible with 

 a slight notch or sinus. The tongue, PI. IX, Figs. 1, 4, 6, a, 

 is oblong, emarginate at the base, horny towards the end, 

 thin-edged, slit or lacerated. The oesophagus, ^, ^, d^ is rather 

 wude, uniform ; the proventriculus, d, bulbiform, with a com- 

 plete belt of oblong or cylindrical glandules. The stomach. 

 Figs. 4, 6,y; g^ is a gizzard of moderate power, with a thin, 

 slightly rugous inner coat or cuticular lining. The intestine, 

 h, i^j, k, I, m, is of moderate length and diameter, slightly con- 

 tracting dowTiwards. Two very small, cylindrical adnate coeca. 

 Fig. 3, c, d. Rectum, «, b, wider, with an oblong dilatation 

 towards the end. Body compact, ovate ; neck generally rather 

 short or of moderate length. Legs of moderate length, rather 

 stout ; tarsus moderately long, with from seven to ten anterior 

 scutella. Toes four, three anterior moderately spreading, first 

 of the same length as the second and fourth, stout; third 

 much longer ; third and fourth united at the base. Claw^s 

 arched, stout, compressed, acute, laterally grooved. Wings of 

 moderate length, oblong, much rounded, the primaries nar- 

 rowed towards the end, and separated when the wing is ex- 

 panded ; the first very short, the fourth and fifth longest. 



Birds of this order are found in all parts of the globe. They 

 are frequently gregarious ; those which feed chiefly on larvae, 

 w^orms, or seeds, are always so, and the larger species, which 

 prefer animal food, associate occasionally without quarrelling. 

 Almost every eatable substance that can be mentioned enters 

 into their bill of fare, although each species has its own limited 

 range of food. The Crows are the most general eaters, the 

 Starlings the most limited. They walk with ease, leap under 

 excitement, or even run with considerable speed. Their flight 

 is strong, often rapid, generally performed by regularly-timed 



