SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA 01' BIRDS ix 



22. Pastor (Rose-coloured Starling). Bill slightly arched, forming an 

 elongated cone, compressed ; nostrils at the base of the bill partly 

 covered by a feathery membrane ; wings with the first primary 

 verv short, second and third longest. Pa^e 56 



FAMILY CORVID.E 



(Crows) 



Bill powerful, more or less compressed at the sides ; upper mandible 

 more or less arched to the point without distinct notch ; gape nearly 

 straight ; nostrils concealed by stiff bristles. Hallux very strong, but 

 with its claws not as long as the middle toe and claw. Birds of firm 

 and compact structure ; their wings long, pointed, and powerful ; their 

 feet and claws robust. In disposition bold and daring, extremely sagacious, 

 easily tamed and made familiar. Most of them have the power of imitating 

 various sounds, but their natural voices are harsh. They evince a remarkable 

 propensity for thieving and hiding brilliant and gaudy substances. In 

 appetite they are omnivorous. 



23. Pyrrhocorax (Chough). Bill longer than the head, rather slender, 

 arched from the base, and pointed; nostrils oval; feet strong, 

 tarsus longer than the middle toe ; wings rounded, first primary 

 short, fourth and fifth the longest ; tail even at the end. 



Page 56 



24 NuciFRAGA (Nutcracker). Bill about as long as the head, straight, 

 conical, the base dilated, and dividing the feathers of the fore- 

 head ; mandibles blunt, the upper somewhat the longer ; nostrils 

 round ; wings rather long and pointed ; first primary shorter than 

 the second and third, fourth longest ; tail nearly even. 



Page 57 



25. Garrulus (Jay). Bill shorter than the head, conical ; both mandi- 



bles equally curved, the upper notched near the tip ; crown feathers 

 forming a crest ; wings rounded, fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries 

 nearly equal, and the longest ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; 

 tail moderate, slightly rounded. Page 58 



26. Pica (Magpie). Bill, nostrils, and feet as in Corvus ; wings short 



and rounded ; tail long, graduated. Page 59 



27. CoRvus (Raven, Crows, Rook). Bill not longer than the head, strong, 



straight at the base, cutting at the edges, and curved towards 

 the point ; nostrils oval ; feet strong, tarsus longer than the mii^dle 

 toe ; wings pointed, first primary moderate, second and third 

 shorter than the fourth, which is the longest ; tail moderate, rounded. 



Page 61 



FAMILY LANIID^ 



(Shrikes) 



Bill strong, arched, and hooked, the upper mandible strongly notched 

 after the manner of the Falconid^ ; claws adapted for capturing insects 

 and even small birds. Sylvan. Young barred below. 



28. Lanius (Shrike, or Butcher Bird). Bill short, flattened vertically 



(compressed) at the sides ; gape furnished with bristly feathers 

 directed forwards ; wings with the first three primaries graduated, 

 the third and fourth being the longest, Page y^ 



