600 CORVUS CORAX. 



with two plates. The toes are of moderate strength ; the third 

 longest, the rest nearly equal in length, but the hind one much 

 stronger. On the first are nine, on the second ten, on the third 

 twelve, on the fourth eleven scutella. The claws are rather 

 large, arched, compressed, rather obtuse ; those of the first and 

 second toes slightly grooved on the sides. 



The plumage is moderately full, compact, and highly glossed, 

 the feathers with longish plumules composed of a few downy 

 filaments. Over each side of the upper mandible, and extend- 

 ing beyond the nostrils, are numerous adpressed, stiff bristly 

 feathers, with disunited filaments ; and at the base of the rictus 

 is a series of strong deflected bristle-like feathers, having a few 

 filaments at their base. There are similar but shorter feathers 

 at the base of the crura of the lower mandible. On the ante- 

 rior part of the forehead is a transverse line of very short com- 

 pact feathers ; those of the fore part of the head are compact 

 and highly glossed ; on the hind part and sides of the neck 

 the barbs are disunited ; the anterior cervical are elongated 

 and lanceolate ; the rest of the feathers are ovate, rounded, and 

 highly glossed, except the abdominal, which are loose, and 

 softer. The wings are long and much rounded ; the quills 

 twenty-two ; the primaries straight, tapering, the first short, 

 the fourth longest, the third scarcely shorter, the fifth almost 

 as long as the fourth, and longer than the second ; the first 

 five cut out on both webs, the outer from near the base ; the 

 secondary quills very broad, the outer abrupt, the inner rounded, 

 all with a small tip. The tail is of moderate length, ample, 

 and considerably rounded. 



The bill, tarsi, toes, and claws are glossy black. The iris 

 is dark brown. The general colour of the plumage is deep 

 black, with splendent reflections of rich purplish-blue ; the 

 quills, alula, and lower parts with green tints ; the abdomen 

 tinged with brown, and without gloss. 



Length to end of tail 26 inches ; extent of wings 52 ; bill 

 along the back 3, along the edge of lower mandible 3, depth 

 at the base l^^^ ; tarsus 2| ; middle toe and claw 2|. Of 

 another individual, the length was 27 inches, the extent of 

 wings 50, the bill 3, the tarsus 2^, the middle toe and claw 2f , 



