THE AMERICAN RAVEN. 855 
Famiry CORVIDZ. 
Primaries ten; the first short, generally about half as long as the second (or a 
little more), the outer four sinuated on the inner edge; the nasal foss and nostrils 
usually more or less concealed by narrow stiffened bristles (or bristly feathers), with 
short appressed lateral branches extending to the very tip, all directed forwards; 
tarsi scutellate anteriorly, the sides undivided (except sometimes below) and separa- 
ted from the anterior plates by a narrow, naked strip, sometimes filled up with small 
scales; basal joint of middle toe united about equally to the lateral, generally for 
about half the length; bill generally notched. 
Sub-Family Corvinz.— The Crows. 
Wings long and pointed; longer than the tail, and, when closed, reaching nearly 
to its tip, extending far beyond the under tail coverts; the third, fourth, and fifth 
quills forming the tip of the wing. ; 
CORVUS, Linnzvs. 
Corvus, Linnxus, Syst. Nat. (1735). (Type Corvus corax, L.) 
The nasal feathers lengthened, reaching to or beyond the middle of the bill; 
nostrils large, circular, overhung behind by membrane, the edges rounded else- 
where; rictus without bristles; bill nearly as long as the tarsus, very stout; much 
higher than broad at the base; culmen much arched; wings reaching to or nearly to 
the tip of the tail; tarsi longer than the middle toe, with a series of small scales on 
the middle of each side separating the anterior scutellate portion from the posterior 
continuous plates; side of the head occasionally with nearly naked patches; tail 
graduated or rounded; the outer four primaries sinuated internally. 
CORVUS CARNIVORUS. — Bartram. 
The American Raven. 
Corvus carnivorus, Bartram. Travels in E. Florida (1793), 290. 
Corvus corax, Wilson. Am. Orn., IX. (1825) 186. Nutt. Man., I. (1832) 202. 
Aud. Birds Am., IV. (1842) 78. 
- DESCRIPTION. 
Fourth quill longest; third and fifth about equal; second between fifth and sixth; 
first nearly equal to the eighth; entirely glossy black, with violet reflections. 
In this species, the feathers of the head above and body are compact and blended; 
those of the back of the neck are very smooth and even, but do not show the out- 
lines of each separately as elsewhere; on the chin and throat, the feathers are 
zlongated and lanceolate, each one more or less pendent or free, with the outlines 
distinct to near the base; the bill is very long (three inches), and considerably 
curved, the upper mandible extending considerably over the upper at the end. 
