122 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
purple ; zeck, back, scapulars, rump, and most of lower parts 
ashy-grey ; wings and tail black, glossed with purple or in some 
lights with greenish ; many of e, feathers show dusky shafts ; 
bill, legs and feet black; irides brown. Length 17 to 19 inches ; 
culmen 2°2; wing 12 to 13 inches; tail 7°8 ; tarsus 2°‘2. 
Young: Head dull black, not glossy; grey parts duller, 
especially on hind neck, where the feathers are dusky ; upper 
tail-coverts blackish, without any perceptible grey margin. 
Distribution: Central and Southern Europe; a winter 
visitant to England, breeding regularly in Scotland and Ireland. 
Habitat: Similar to C. corone. 
Note.—Owing to the close interbreeding of the two species last described, 
some authors are led to consider them as specifically identical. 
RAVEN. vA 
Corvus corax L7nn. 
Adult: Entire A/wmage black, glossed, especially above, 
with steel-blue and purple ; feathers on throat lanceolate ; \ill, 
legs and feet black ; irides brown. Length 25 to 26 inches ; 
eulmen (3°15; swung a7 to 77255. tail..1o°26 5) Mateus (ase se 
Female slightly smaller than the male. 
Young: Very similar, but feathers of the throat are not 
lanceolate and the plumage generally is duller. 
Distribution: Found throughout the Palearctic region. 
Habitat: Usually frequents barren mountainous regions. 
Generally to be seen in company with another of the same 
species. 
Li ey 
Nvubtisetto~s wes ky OU ees Gi ~ 
