586 FREGILUS. CHOUGH. 



hind with a very sharp edge ; toes of moderate size, the outer 

 adherent as far as the second joint ; hind toe comparatively 

 large, lateral toes nearly equal, third considerably longer ; all 

 covered above with a few large scutella, beneath padded, rather 

 flattened, granulate, and transversely sulcate ; claws strong, 

 arched, compressed, rather sharp, their sides flattened and erect, 

 the inner edge of the third scarcely dilated. 



Plumage dense, very soft, glossy, generally blended, and 

 somewhat silky ; the feathers of the body ovate, rounded, w^ith 

 discrete barbs, and a long plumule, composed of a few downy 

 filaments. Feathers on the head short ; those at the base of 

 the upper mandible slender, short, stiff, reversed ; there are 

 also decurved bristles at the base of the upper mandible, and 

 numerous straight ones in the angle of the lower. Wings 

 long ; the outer primaries separated wdien the wing is extended ; 

 primary quills ten, the first very short and narrow, the fourth 

 longest, the third and fifth little shorter ; the first five or six 

 having both w^ebs narrowed towards the end ; secondary quills 

 twelve, short, broad, the outer truncate, the inner rounded. 

 Tail of moderate length, generally even, of twelve broad trun- 

 cate feathers. 



Two species of this genus occur in Europe, Fregilus Pyrrho- 

 corax and Fregilus Graculus, of which the latter only inhabits 

 Britain. Although in their general appearance, and in their 

 particular characters, they agree so closely that one could 

 hardly think of separating them, they have by Cuvier been 

 referred to two different genera, merely because Pyrrhocorax 

 has a shorter bill than Graculus, wdth a slight notch, which 

 is obsolete in the other. These birds resemble the crowds in 

 their aspect and habits, w^hile they have also a direct affinity 

 to the genera Epimachus, Paradisea, Caryocatactes, Stum us, 

 Oriolus, and several others. They nestle in rocks and towers ; 

 are shy and vigilant ; when searching for food betake them- 

 selves to open pastures, walk in the same manner as crows, 

 and have a similar flight. 



Considering it very inexpedient to alter the specific names of 

 birds, I prefer the generic name Fregilus to Pyrrhocorax, thus 

 leaving the latter to designate Corvus Pyrrhocorax of Linnaeus. 



