18 BIRRS OF TUNISIA 



Dresser gives 13'80 as the length of the wing of a female of this species, but 

 this must have been an exceptionally small bird. Specimens from Marocco 

 seem rather more uniform in size, and are never so large as some examples 

 from Tunisia. 



The vying formula appears to be the same as in C. corax, the fourth 

 primary being the longest, the third slightly less, the fifth still less, the 

 second about an inch less than the third, and the first about three inches less 

 than the second. 



Whether the name of C. leptony.r, Peale (U.S. Expl. Exped. p. 105, 1848), 

 is applicable to the present form of Eaven, it is difficult to say. Were such 

 to be the case, according to the lav? of priority, the name tingitaniis vfould 

 have to give way to it, but the description of C. leptomjx is somevrbat vague, 

 and does not apply vpell to the North-west African bird. Under the cir- 

 cumstances, therefore, it seems advisable to retain the name of tingitanus by 

 which this form has hitherto been known. The name C. leptomjx seems to 

 have been given to a Raven found in Madeira, but as none of these birds 

 appear to be resident there, but are only to be met with in the island on 

 passage, it is impossible, failing any type specimen, lo say what form Peale's 

 name really refers to. I may here observe that the Raven occurring in the 

 Western Canary Islands has been distinguished subspecifically under the 

 name of C c. canariensis., Hart, and Kleinschm., and that occurring in Spain, 

 under the name of C. c. hispanus, Hart, and Kleinschm. (Novit. Zool. 

 1901, p. 45). 



This small Kaven, although closely allied to C. corax, L., is no 

 doubt a fairly distinct subspecies, recognisable by its smaller size 

 and generally soraewhat-differently shaped bill. It also differs from 

 the common Eaven in many of its habits and, according to some 

 careful observers, in its note. 



Besides being found generally throughout the whole of North- 

 west Africa, this Eaven, or another closely allied form, occurs as a 

 resident on some of the Canary Islands, and, as a visitor, in Madeira. 

 On the small island of Hierro, one of the Canary group, the bird seems 

 to be so abundant that it is a positive pest. Mr. Meade-Waldo, 

 writing on the Ornis of this island {Ibis, 1890, p. 432), gives the 

 following interesting notes regarding this Eaven : — 



" Probably nowhere in the world is the Tangier Eaven (C. tingi- 

 tanus) more numerous than here ; it is always in sight, flying in flocks, 

 large and small, walking about close to one, and showing but little 

 fear. They would come to our tent and greedily pick up the bodies 

 of birds that had been skinned, and the pine-forest, where our tent 

 was pitched, resembled a scattered rookery. The pairs in November 



