152 CROWS. 



buildings of various kinds, or rocks, and produce from three to 

 nine eggs, which are deposited very early in the season. They 

 repose at night in similar retreats, and when alarmed by day, 

 generally betake themselves to heights. Some species are grega- 

 rious, others are unsocial — the latter being the most carnivorous. 

 They are all easily tamed, and some may be taught to imitate 

 the human voice, so as to produce a few articulate sounds. 



"The crows, regarded generally," says Mr. Swainson, "exhibit 

 the greatest perfection and the most varied powers with which 

 Nature has endowed this class of animals. This superiority con- 

 sists not in the extraordinary development of any particular organ 

 or quality, but in the union of nearly all those powers which have 

 been assigned separately to other families. In every climate habi- 

 table by man these birds are found. They are as well constructed 

 for powerful flight as for walking with a firm and stately pace on 

 the earth. They feed indiscriminately on animals or vegetables, 

 and when pressed by hunger, refuse not carrion — hence their smell 

 is remarkably acute. They are bold but wary, and possess great 

 courage ; while their cunning, pilfering, and hoarding dispositions 

 all indicate greater intelligence than is found in most other fa- 

 milies of birds." 



To this family belong the Piping Crows, the Jays, the Tree 

 Crows, the Crows, the Fruit Crows, and the Choughs. 



Sub-Family I. 

 THE PIPING CROWS. PHONEGAMINvE.* 



General Characteristics. — Bill lengthened, with the base broad, the sides com- 

 pressed, and the culmen broad, rounded, projecting on the forehead, and more or 

 less straight to the tip, which is more or less emarginated; the nostrils basal, much 

 exposed, and usually in the form of a long narrow slit in the substance of the bill ; 

 the wings usually long and pointed or rounded ; the tail long and even or rounded 

 the tarsi and the toes strong and strongly scaled, with the outer toe united at it. 

 base. 



The Piping Crows are inhabitants of the primeval forests of Nev/ 

 Guinea and of New South Wales, where they may be seen perched 

 on the upper branches of large trees, the fruits of which form their 



* <pwvi], phone, voice ; "^6.^.0% marriage : so called because they are especially noisy 

 during the breednig season. 



