PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 31 



but inferior in length to the middle toe. The sexes are alike, 

 and there is only one moult, in the autumn. The plumage of 

 the nestling is paler than that of the adult. 



In the genus Corvus the plumage is mainly black ; the bill 

 is slightly curved at the tip, but not notched ; the nostrils lie 

 far forward, and the bristles which conceal them are long and 

 stiff ; the wings are long and pointed ; the tail moderate and 

 rounded. In the genus Cissa the plumage is brightly coloured ; 

 the bill has a perceptible notch at the tip ; the nostrils are 

 near the base of the bill, and the concealing bristles are rather 

 soft and short ; the wings are short and rounded, and the tail 

 long and graduated. 



Key to Ceylon Corvidae. 



1. — Plumage mainly or wholly black, genus Corvus. 

 (a) Wholly black. 



Corvus coronoides culminatus (The Black Crow). 

 (6) Neck dark smoky-gray. 



C. splendens protegatus (The Ceylon House Crow). 



2. — -Plumage mainly bright blue and chestnut. 

 Cissa ornata (The Ceylon Magpie). 



Corvus coronoides culminatus. 

 The Black Crow. 



Corvus tnacrorhyncus (Gates, Vol. T., p. 17) ; Corone macror- 

 hynca (Legge, p. 346). 



Description. — Entire plumage black ; hind-neck and sides 

 of neck glossless ; scapulars, wing coverts, rump, and outer 

 tail feathers glossed with purple ; throat and breast glossed 

 with dark steel blue ; the bases of the body feathers light 

 smoke gray in birds from the dry districts, darker and brownish 

 in birds from the wet zone. Pied and albino specimens are 

 met with occasionally, and one bird in the Colombo Museum 

 is a pale smoky-brown, slightly darker on the back and 

 abdomen. 



