CORVIDAE 



555 



and Corvus caurinus vei[mve passing mention. Crows generally 

 inhabit wooded country, but also bare moorlands or sea-coasts ; 

 the Nutcracker rec^uires pine-forests — commonly at considerable 

 elevations ; and Magpies haunt woods, yet not so invariably 

 as Jays. The whole Family hop, and most forms, except per- 

 haps Jays, w^alk or run also. All are active birds and fly well, 

 the Chough, Jay, and Nutcracker in more undulating fashion : 



Fio. 130. — Raven. Corviis corax. x /y. 



while soaring is a common practice. Ravens have very deep 

 voices, and croak, " bark," or " grunt " ; Jackdaws utter a clear 

 " jake-jake " ; Choughs a ringing, metallic note or a hoarse " chough- 

 chough " ; Nutcrackers a " churr-churr " ; Magpies a continuous 

 " rattle " or " chatter." Jays vary their harsh, grating utter- 

 ances by mimicking other species, the American Blue Jays being 

 notorious adepts, and exhibiting meanwhile fantastic contortions of 

 the head, wings, and tail. Many species, such as Eavens, Magpies, 

 and Jackdaws, learn to imitate sounds when tamed. The Corvidae 



