JAY. 329 



quarters to fourteen inches and a half or even more. From 

 the carpal joint to the end of the wing, seven inches and an 

 eighth ; the first primary about two inches and a half long ; 

 the second about four inches and an half, and nearly an 

 inch shorter than the third ; the fourth, fifth and sixth 

 nearly equal, but the fifth longest. 



There is little difference in the plumage of the sexes, and 

 the young also resemble the adults, but have brown irides. 



The expediency of dividing the Linnreus genus Corvus 

 has long been recognized and the genera here adopted are 

 accepted by nearly all modern systematists. The Editor is 

 inclined to regard the Corv'uhe as the most highly-organized 

 family of the Order Passeres — themselves the highest type 

 of Bird-structure. In most of the genera of this family, 

 the first plumage of the young resembles that of the adult, 

 the occasional exceptions found in the Eook being perhaps 

 explicable on the hypothesis before suggested {supra page 

 303) ; but in that view the genus next to be described must 

 be deemed less developed and differentiated, retaining as do 

 most of its members that unmistakable mark of youth — a 

 spotted plumage — to the end of their life. 



