302 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



liooks. Fnifjilegus, Lesson and Gray. 

 The Books have the bill straighter, more slender and pomted 

 than the Carrion-crows, and less bent at the tip ; the face of the 

 adult is denuded of feathers up to the eyes. They are, perhaps, 

 worthy of generic separation. 



664. Corvus iTUgilegus, Linnaeus. 



Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 224 — Blyth, Cat. 453 — Horsf., 

 Cat. 838. 



The Eook. 



Descr. — Black, finely glossed with purple throughout. 



Length 19^ to 20 inches ; wing 13 ; tail 7^ ; bill at front 2^ ; 

 tarsus Ij'q ; wings reach to within 1 inch or so of the end of the 

 tail. 



This Rook is found in the Punjab in the cold weather, and also 

 in Cashmere. Dr. Saunders of the Bengal Army first informed 

 rae of this, and it has been subsequently confirmed by several 

 observers. It is also a winter visitant to AfFghanistan. As in 

 England, it feeds chiefly on ploughed lands. 



A nearly allied Rook is found in China and Japan, C. pastinator. 

 Gould. 



Gen. CoL^us, Kaup. 



Syn. L^cos, Boie — Monedula, Brehm. 



Cliar. — Bill shorter than in Corvus; colours mixed black and 

 grey. Associate in large flocks, and nidificate on rocks or high 

 buildlnos. 



O 



The Jackdaws are separated generically from Corvus on account 

 of their much shorter bill, smaller size, and other characters. 



^^b. Colaeus monedula, Linnaeus. 



Corvus, apud LiNNiEUS — GouLD, Birds of Europe, i-l. 223 

 —Blyth, Cat. 454— Horsf., Cat. 843— Adams, Birds of Cash- 

 mere, No. 15. 



The Common Jackdaw, 



Descr. —Forehead and top of head black, glossed with purple ; 

 hind head, car-coverts, back, and sides of the neck, silvery grey ; 



