222 CORVINE. 



Croivs, (Corvid&j) of comparatively small extent. 

 The members of it are mostly of a large size, and 

 are clothed, with the exception of one sub-family, 

 in dark and unobtrusive colours. The European 

 genera are also limited, and in our Fauna we 

 possess representatives of only five, which stand in 

 three of the sub-families. That which we shall first 

 consider is the sub-family Corvince, or True Crows, 

 exhibiting three British modifications of form in 

 the genera Corvus, Pica, and Nucifraga. In the 

 genus Corvus, or typical crows, the size is large ; 

 the colours of the plumage, with very few excep- 

 tions, black, occasionally contrasted with gray or 

 pure white. In form they are made extremely 

 compact and powerful ; they possess strong organs 

 for sustaining flight, are active and iaring in 

 their manners, but extremely wary ana cunning, 

 while at the same time they are easily tamed, 

 and soon become forward and familiar. They 

 are social, and many species live constantly in 

 bands, and breed together in large communities. 

 They are in a great measure omnivorous, but feed 

 chiefly during summer and autumn on grains, 

 fruits, roots, and insects with their larvae, often 

 serving by their perseverance to keep in check 

 the ravages of the latter, During winter and 

 spring, weak and sickly animals and birds fall an 

 easy and acceptable prey, and carrion of all kinds 

 is quickly discovered and eagerly devoured by 

 them. The latter propensity has been attributed 

 to their keen scent ; but whether this sense is so 

 very fully developed, as to enable them to dis- 



