INSESSORES I CORVID^E. 225 



plough uncovers. They also visit newly-sown grain-fields 

 to pick up the exposed kernels, and in the autumn large 

 flocks commit depredations upon the cornfields. 



The Florida Blackbird, Q. baritus, Vieill., of the West 

 Indies and Florida coast, is over ten and a half inches 

 long, and the wing five inches. 



STURNID.E, OR STARLING FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises birds which are nearly related to the preceding 

 one, but which have a rudimentary outer primary, thus 

 making the primaries ten instead of nine, as in Icteridae. 



The Genus Sturnus comprises the Common Starling, 

 5. vulgaris, Linn., of Europe, which is about the size of a 

 thrush, black with violet and green reflections, and spot- 

 ted with white or fawn-color. It moves in large flocks, 

 is easily tamed, and may be taught to sing, and even to 

 speak. 



CORVID,E, OR CROW FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 the Crows and their allies. 



The Genus Corvus has the bill thick, culmen much 

 curved, bristly feathers at the base of the bill half as long 

 as the culmen, and the color throughout black. 



The American Raven, C. carnivorus, Bartram, of North 

 America, but rare east of the Mississippi, is twenty-four 

 inches long, and the wing seventeen inches. It makes its 

 nest on high and rugged cliffs. The eggs are four to six, 

 two inches long, and of a light greenish-blue, and covered 

 with blotches of light purple and yellowish brown. 



The Colorado Raven, C. cacalotl, Wagler, of California, 

 is twenty-five inches long, and the wing eighteen inches ; 

 the color glossy black. 



The White-necked Crow, C. cryptoleucus, Couch, of the 

 Rio Grande region, is twenty-one inches long, and the 

 wing fourteen inches. The color is glossy black, with 

 the feathers of the neck and breast snow-white at the 

 base. 



10* (i 



