Group I. COLIOMORPH^. 



Bill stout, generally of large size, not deflected at aU, or very little 

 so ; cliin-angle produced before the line of the nostrils * ; cutting 

 edge of lower mandibles simple. Tongue not extensile, generally 

 thick and fleshy, the tip homy, slight, divided, or split up into 

 threads in various ways. Feet in most strong, large, with the claw 

 of the middle toe oblique. 



Cf. SundevaU, Av. Tent. p. 37. 



S>/nojJsis of Families. 



a. BiU without a distinct subterminal notch in 

 the upper mandible. 

 a'. Toes normal, the hallux very strong, but, 

 with its claw, not as long as the middle 



toe and claw Corvidae, p. 4. 



v. Toes abnormal : outer toe a little shorter 

 than the middle one, longer than the 

 inner one ; hallux very large, with its 

 claw equal to or longer than the middle 



toe with its claw Paradiseidse, p. 153. 



I. Bill with a notch in the upper mandible. 

 c'. Nostrils placed well in front of the base 



of the biU and quite bare OriolidSB, p. 188. 



d' . Nostrils more or less covered with bristles, 

 generally completely so. 

 «". Tail forked, consisting of ten feathers . DicruridaB, p. 228. 

 h" . Tail moderate, rounded or square, con- 

 sisting of twelve feathers PrionopidSB, p. 270. 



Family CORVID^. 



a. Nostrils placed high in the maxilla, 



as near to or nearer the calmen than 



the edge of the maxilla Subfam. CORVINjE, p. 5. 



t. Nostrils placed lower in the maxUla, 



nearer to its lower edge than to the 



cuhnen Szibfam. FREGILIN^, p. 146. 



* In some of the Jays the nostril and the chin-angle are nearly in a line ; 

 but in most of them, when the skeleton has been examined (as I have been able 

 to do in nearly all Corvine genera), it gives the balance in favour of the pro- 

 duced angle of the chin. S<ome Creepers have also the last-named character ; 

 but then the general form of the bill and feet is so different as to prohibit their 

 being confoimded with Crows. 



