^ 



CORVID^ — CORVINJE: CROWS. 415 



probably requiring reduction by at least oue-thiid, in both cases. The Corvidce have been 

 divided into live subfamilies ; three of tliese are small and apparently specialized groups con- 

 fined to the Old World, where they arc represented most largely in the Australian and Indian 

 regions ; the other two, constituting the great bulk of the family, are more nearly cosmopolitan. 

 These are the Corvinee and Garrulince, or crows and jays, readily distinguishable, at least so 

 fiir as our forms are concerned, by tlie longer pointed wings and shorter less rounded tail of the 

 former as contrasted with the shorter rounded wings and longer more rounded or graduated tail 

 of the latter. 



26. Subfamily CORVIN/E: Crows. 



With the wings long and ])()iute(l, mucli exceeding the 



^ tail; the tip formed by the 3d, 4th, and 5th quills; 2d 



^Z ^^r^ k much shorter, 1st only about i as long as 3d. The 



legs stout, fitted for walking as well as perching. As 



a rule, the plumage is sombre or at least unvariegated, 



— blue, the characteristic color of the jays, being hero 



rare. The sexes are alike, and the changes of plumage 

 Fig. 267. — Typical Corvine bill. ,• i^ » txi. i, x i, • n • • i- i 



slight. Although technically oscme, corvine birds are 



liighly unmusical ; the voice of the larger kinds is raucous, that of the smaller strident, — witness 

 the croak of the raven, the "caw" of the crow, the screaming of jays. They frequent all situ- 

 ations, and walk firmly and easily on the ground, where jays hop. They are among the most 

 nearly omnivorous of birds, and as a consequence, in connection with their hardy nature, they 

 are rarely if ever truly migratory. Their nesting is various, according to circumstances, but 

 the fabric is usually rude and bulky ; the eggs, of the average oscine number, are commonly 

 bluish or greenish, speckled. Although not properly gregarious, as a rule, they often associate 

 in large numbers, drawn together by community of interest. In illustrati(m of this may b(; 

 instanced the extensive roosting-places in the Atlantic States, comparable to the rookeries of 

 Europe, whither immense troops of crows resort nightly, often from great distances, recalling 

 the fine line of the poet, — 



" The blackening trains of crows to their repose." 



Oar tliree genera of Corvinee are readily known by the black color of Corvtis, the gray, 

 wiiite, and black of Pidcorvus, and the blue of Gymnocitta. In the latter, as in Psilorhinux 

 of GarrulirKB, the nostrils are exposed, contrary to the rule in each subfamily. 

 COR'VUS. (Lat. corvus, a crow. Fig. 267-) Ravens. Crows. The species throughout 

 uniform lustrous black, including the bill and feet ; nasal bristles about half as long as the bill, 

 which exhibits the typical cultrirostral style. Nostrils large, but entirely concealed. Wings 

 much longer than tail, folding about to its end. Several outer primaries sinuate-attenuate on 

 inner webs. TaU rounded, with broad feathers, sinuate-truncate at ends, with mueronate shafts. 

 Feet stout ; tarsus more or less nearly equal to middle toe and claw, roughly scutellate in front, 

 laminar behind, with a set of small plates between. 



Analysis of Species. 



Havens, with the throat-feathers acute, lengtliened, disconnected. 



About 2 feet long; wing lC-18 inches; tail about 10. Bases of cervical featliers gray .... corax 338 



Smaller; concealed tase.? of cervical feathers pure white (Southwestern) cryptoleucus 339 



Crows, with the throat-feathers oval and blended. 



Length 18-20; wing 12-14 ; tail 7-8 ; bill 1 J-2, its height at base 3 ; tarsus about equal to the middle toe 



and daw, longer than bill ; Ist quill not longer than 10th fruf/iiwrus .340, 341 



Small. Length 14-16 ; wing 10-11 ; tail 6-7; bill 15-2; tarsus rather longer than bill or middle toe and 



clavf ; 1st quill longer than 10th. (Northwestern) cnurinus 342 



Small ; 14-16 inches long ; wing 10-11 ; tail 6-7; tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw, longer than 



bill ; 1st quill not longer than 10th maritimus Sii 



