332 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Comm/nioiromif •Babtb." Coubb. Pr. PUIL Acad. 1875. 3t6; M Check Lt»t. lOO. No. 

 SlO.-KiDOW. Nom. Am. B. lt«l, No. 282. 



Had. Wlinlv of tfniinTiilu Nurth Anifrlcn, oxcept uortliwcHt coast: south to nortbcni 

 Mexico. Bare In the Interior western districts. 



8p. Char. Tall sIlKhtly rounded. Feathers of throat short, blended, those of neck, 

 etc., du.iky Kriiyl-'h at bases. Adult. Deep bluek. with violet kIoss, the latter fainter on 

 lower parts, lllll and feet deep black; Iris brown, \tiuiig. Dull. lusterless bluek. Total 

 lenKth (freshlspeelmcns). 18.50-19.50; extent. '.t7.0()-38.50; wing (In skins), about 13.00-13.50; 

 tall. 8.00. 



During the breeding season, when the plumage becomes worn or 

 "weather-beaten," there is much less gloss to the plumage. "All 

 specimens shot at this season do not exhibit'this peculiarity, and 

 some show it in a more marked degree than others. These speci- 

 mens are characterized by the entire absence ofjthe violet gloss on 

 the wings and tail, those parts being of a lustreless, purplish brown 

 color. Some specimens have the concealed bases of the feathers 

 of a fine, violet-glossed black, and the residue of a rich bronze hue." 

 (Mearns, Bull. Niitt. Orn. Club, Vol. Ill, 1878, p. 71.) 



So well known a bird as the Common Crow needs no special 

 biography in a work like this. His general habits are as familiar 

 to every one, as are his appearance and voice. There are never- 

 theless some traits of his character which are hardly appreciated 

 to the extent that they should be, and it is exceedingly jirobable 

 that he is a much more useful member of bird society than he is 

 given credit for. 



Subfamily GARRULIN^.— The Javs. 



"Char. WlnRS short, rounded: not longer or much shorter than the tail, whieh is 

 graduated, sometimes excessively so. Wings reaching not much beyond the lower l«il- 

 oovert8. Bristly feathers at base of bill variable. Bill nearly as long as the head, or 

 shorter. Tjirsi longer than the bill or than the middle toe. Outer lateral claws rather 

 shorter than the inner. {Hi.il. .V. Am. 11.) 



The following genera belong to North America, there being two others iPtilorhinua 

 and .Xaiilhoitra) whii-U barely come within our borders across the lower Rio Oraudo. 



A. Tail very long and much graduated; first primary very narrow, falcate. 

 Pica, Head without crest; wings and tail metallic green and bluish. 



B. Tail about as long as the wings, rounded; first primary not falcate. 

 II. Head conspicuously crested. 



Cyanooitta, Wings and tail blue, barred with black. 

 b. Head without crest. 



Apheloooma. .\bove blue, the back (in North American species) more or less gray- 



