438 GENUS CORVUS. 



between the thin membranous kind peculiar to the carnivorous 

 families, and the thick muscular gizzard which characterise the 

 granivorous — their form of feet also having three toes forward 

 of equal length and one behind, with the help of their strong 

 claws and legs enable them to walk or perch with equal ease, 

 while their pointed and moderately long wings and rounded tail, 

 perfect as a rudder, ensures powerful flight — steady without 

 being heavy, and buoyant without being wavering — as if all the 

 requisites of the different kinds of flight were centred in these 

 omnivorous wanderers and useful scavengers. Their eye, too, 

 is keen — not confined to short ranges, as well as suited to guide 

 the carrion crow to offal on the sea-shore as to cause the sudden 

 wheel of the rook or daw to snatch up a piece of bread on the 

 street. Exposed to many enemies by their wandering habits, 

 their intellectual qualities are equally acute and ever on the 

 alert, for, though bold and daring, they are wary and cautious. 

 They are no specialists, but are specially fitted by nature to be 

 amongst her best all-rowid birds. But it is only when 

 domesticated that their intelligence is best observed, while their 

 docility and faculty for observation prove their brain power is 

 exceeded by no other bird — in fact, if taken young they become 

 not only familiar, but obtrusive and impudent. 



Genus Corvus. (Linn.) 



There are five species of crow — the raven, the carrion crow, 

 hooded crow, rook, and jackdaw. In each the bill is strong, 

 conical, cultrated, straight at the base, but bending slightly at 

 the tip ; can dig, lever, break, or cut with ease. Their 

 powerful legs and feet, armed with strong curved claws and 

 scutella, can run on a ploughed field or grasp a telegraphic wire. 

 Though their usual walk is an easy stride, they can run or hop 

 with equal celerity. Their wings are long and pointed — fourth 

 quill longest — and rounded tail of moderate length, in the exact 

 proportion to suit all kinds of flight. 



