( 192 ) 



This Family, are omuiverous feeders, 

 taking grain, fruits, insects, small 

 animals, nestlings, eggs, and in some 

 cases carrion for food. 



There are over two hundred species 

 in the Family, widely distributed 

 over the world. Twenty seven species 

 have been recorded from China, of 

 which nine reach the Yangtse Valley. 



Key to the Corvidae of the Yangtse 

 Valley. 



a. Plumage solid black ; 



a'. Very heavy bill feathered at base : 

 Corvus macr<yi"hynchiis levaillanti. 



b'. Sharp conical bill, bare of feathers 

 at the base ; Corvus frugilegus 

 pastinator. 



b. Plumage mixed black and white ; 

 . b'. Length over eighteen inches, 



white collar and gorget ; Corvus 

 torquatus. 



d'. Length under fifteen inches ; 



a". White collar, breast, and abdo- 

 men ; Coleus dauricus. 



b". Whole under parts dark mixed 

 gray ; Coleus neglectus. 



c. Plumage black, white, and purple ; 



Pica pica sericea. 



d. Plumage mostly blue or gray ; 

 e*. Tail medium length ; 



c". Head solid black ; Cyanopica 

 cyanus. 



d". Head vinaceous gray, uniform 

 with back ; Garrulus sinensis. 



v. Tail very long, head black, spotted 

 gray ; Urocissa sinensis. 



THE COLLARED CROW. 



CORVUS TORQUATUS, LESS. 

 Description. — Length nineteen and 

 one half inches. Bill, tarsus, and 

 iris, black. 



