56 



CRO WS. 



Sub-Family III. 

 THE TREE CROWS. CALLEATIN^ * 



General Characteristics. — Bill short, with the culmen elevated at the base and 

 much curved to the tip, the sides compressed, and the gonys long and straight ; the 

 wings short and rounded ; the tail lengthened and graduated ; the tarsi more or less 

 long, and covered in front with broad scales ; the toes moderate, and the lateral 

 ones unequal. 



The Tree Crows are found in both the islands of New Zealand, 

 where they may be seen walking upon the ground, searching for 



Fig. 82.— The Fronted Dendrocitta {^Dcmh-ocitta frontalis). 



the larvse and«grubs of insects. Occasionally they frequent trees 

 of various kinds, for the purpose of plucking their fruits and 

 berries ; they are also said to devour young birds. Some spe- 

 cies inhabit the Australian continent, where they live in small 



* KdXKos, callos, deaui/ : so called from the symmetry of their shape. 



