192 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



as in the Bubonidse ; and the second that the furcula is 

 attached to the sternum, and the middle toe (claw) is found 

 to be serrated. The two families include 13 species and 2 

 sub-species. Our largest owl measures 2 feet in length, the 

 smallest 13 inches. Certain of them keep to heavily tim- 

 bered country, others to the sparsely wooded lands. All 

 breed in hollows and lay white eggs. 



The call of this species is " boo-book " or " more-pork." 

 It is the owl that calls " more-pork " and not the bird we 

 know as " Morepork " or Frogmouth. 



Nest. — Hollow of a tree with decayed wood for the eggs 

 to rest upon. 



Eggs. — Three to a sitting ; white and finely pitted. 

 Length, 1*5 inches; breadth, 13 inches. 



CROW, 



Corvus coroiioides, Vig. and Hors, 



Korvus kor-o-noi' des. 

 Corvus, a crow ; korone, a raven ; eidos, form. 



Corvus australis, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iv., 



pi. 18. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 1 to 8 inclusive. 



Key TO THE Species. — Plumage uniform blue-black ; neck and body 

 feathers snow-white at the bases ; first primary is long, equal to 

 or exceeding the innermost secondaries ; hallux very strong. 



Our continent has a Crow and a Raven. The first is very 

 much in evidence, with results so good that many people who 

 have carefully watched their habits say they are of infinite 

 value to us. The side for tlie prosecution is scathing in its 



