494 



CORVUS. CROW. 



Bill rather long, straight, strong, tapering, of nearly equal 

 height and breadth at the base, compressed towards the end. Up • 

 per mandible having the dorsal outline slightly arched, towards 

 the end declinate, the ridge rather narrow but obtuse, the sides 

 sloping at the base, convex towards the end, the edges direct, 

 sharp, w^ith a slight notch or sinus close to the tip, which is 

 somewhat declinate, rather sharp, and projects a little ; lower 

 mandible with the angle medial, of moderate width, rather 

 acute, the dorsal outline slightly convex, towards the end as- 

 cending, the edges sharp and slightly inflected, the tip rather 

 acute ; the gape-line straightish, towards the tip declinato-de- 

 curvate. 



Mouth of moderate width ; upper mandible concave within, 

 generally with seven longitudinal prominent lines ; lower man- 

 dible deeply concave, w^ith a prominent central line ; palate flat ; 

 aperture of the posterior nares edged with small papillae directed 

 backwards ; aperture of the glottis similarly margined, and with 

 numerous papillae behind. Tongue oblong, at the base emar- 

 ginate and papillate, flat above, horny on both surfaces, thin- 

 edged, the point slit and slightly fimbriated. CEsophagus wide, 

 nearly uniform in diameter, slightly contracted on entering the 

 thorax. Proventriculus bulbiform, its glandules oblong, ob- 

 lique. Stomach a gizzard of moderate size, oblong, compressed, 

 its tendons rather large ; the muscular coat thick, the cuticular 

 lining thick, with a few deep longitudinal grooves. Intestine 

 of moderate length, wider at the upper part, after the second 

 turn continuing of nearly uniform diameter to the coeca, which 



