332 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS, 



Corvusfrugivoru.i "Baetk." Coues. Pr. Phil. Acad. :875, 346; 2d Check List, 1882, No. 

 340.— BiDGW. Nom. Am. B. 1881, No. 282. 



Hab. Whole of temperate North America, except northwest coast; south to northern 

 Mexico. Rare in the interior western districts. 



Si». Chae. Tail slightly rounded. Feathers of throat short, blended, those of neok, 

 etc., dusky grayish at bases. Adult. Deep black, with violet gloss, the latter fainter on 

 lower parts. BiU and feet deep black; iris brown. Young. Dull, lu.sterless black. Total 

 length (fresh specimens), 18.50-lfl.50; extent, 37.00-38.50; wing (in skins), about 13.00-13.50; 

 tail. 8.00. 



During the breeding season, when the plumage becomes worn or 

 "weather-beaten," there is much less gloss to the plumage. "All 

 specimens shot at this season do not exhibit this peculiarity, and 

 some show it in a more marked degree than others. These speci- 

 mens are characterized by the entire absence of the violet gloss on 

 the wings and tail, those parts being of a lustreless, purplish brown 

 color. Some specimens have the concealed bases of the feathers 

 of a fine, violet-glossed black, and the residue of a rich bronze hue." 

 (Meaens, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. Ill, 1878, p. 71.) 



So well known a bird as the Common Crow needs no special 

 biography in a work like this. His general habits are as familiar 

 to every one, as are his appearance and voice. There are never- 

 theless some traits of his character which are hardly appreciated 

 to the extent that they should be, and it is exceedingly probable 

 that he is a much more useful member of bird society than he is 

 given credit for. 



SrBFAMiLY GARRUIjIN-aEJ.— The Jays. 



"Chak. Wings short, rounded; not longer or much shorter than the tail, which is 

 graduated, sometimes excessively so. Wings reaching not much beyond the lower tail- 

 coverts. Bristly feathers at base of bill variable. Bill nearly as long as the head, or 

 shorter. Tarsi longer than the bill or than the middle toe. Outer lateral claws rather 

 shorter than the inner. IHist. N. Am. B.) 



The following genera belong to North America, there being two others (rsitorldnus 

 and Xanthoura) which barely come within our borders across the lower Bio Grande. 



A. Tail very long and much graduated ; first primary very narrow, falcate. 

 Pica. Head without crest ; wings and tail metallic green and bluish. 



B. Tail about as long as the wings, rounded; first primary not falcate. 

 a. Head conspicuously crested. 



Cyanocitta. Wings and tail bine, barred with black. 

 6. Head without crest. 



Aphelocoma. Above blue, the back (in North American species) more or less gray- 



