82 



C'ORVIB.E. 



whole of the plumage entirely black, like that of the Raven ; 

 the upper parts reflecting tints of violet and green in parti- 

 cular lights ; the tail shorter in proportion than that of the 

 Raven ; the tail-feathers broad ; the form of the tail nearly 

 square, the outer feathers on each side being but a little 

 shorter than those in the centre. The legs, toes, and claws, 

 strong, and of a shining black. 



The whole length of the bird described eighteen inches 

 and a half From the carpal joint to the end of the wing 

 thirteen inches and a half: the first feather three inches 

 shorter than the second ; the second one inch shorter than the 

 third ; the third and fourth nearly equal, and the longest in 

 the wing. 



Females, and the young birds of the year before their first 

 moult, have less metallic lustre on the upper surface of their 

 plumage than adult males. 



The vignette below represents the breast-bone of the 

 Jackdaw, as illustrative of the form of the sternum in the 

 genus Corvus. 



