CORVIDJ5. 



CORVID.E. 



154 



" A glance at the modern arrangements will show how essentially 

 we differ from all ornithologists who like us have attempted to eluci- 

 date this very intricate family. The tests however by which every 

 series of animals thought to be natural must be tried, will bring to 

 light many remarkable peculiarities which belong only to the fore- 

 going arrangement. Yet however confident we feel on the general 

 accuracy of this sketch, we are unprepared either to show in what 

 manner the sub-families are connected, or to refer many of the modern 

 genera to their natural divisions. The Jays (Garruliruf) unquestion- 

 ably represent the Bush-Shrikes (T/iamnophMrur) ; while the genus 

 Crypfirince and the short-legged Glaucopirue of M. Temminck form 

 part of a group typifying the Drongo-Shrikes. The slender bill of the 

 Pregdincf, at the opposite side of the circle, indicates the position of 

 the fissirostral group, corresponding to the Buceridce. But we have 

 many doubts on the true nature of the tenuirostral type, since it 

 must not oaly represent the Hang-Nest Starlings (Icterinw), but also 

 the Caterpillar-Catchers (Ceblepyrince), and the typical Ampelidce, or 

 Chatterers. Now it will strike every ornithologist who has the means 

 of examining the Gracula calra of authors, that notwithstanding its 

 general resemblance to the Chauve of Le Vaillant (' Oiseaux de 

 I'Ame'rique,' pi. 49), it is decidedly a Crow ; while the latter is con- 

 sidered by Le Vaillant as unquestionably belonging to the AmpelicUe. 

 We have therefore good reason to suspect the Gracula calra to be one 

 of the tenuirostral types of the Corrida;. In all probability it will 

 prove to be the sub-family type representing that tribe, although at 

 present we choose to omit its designation in the foregoing table." 



In the following article we shall describe the genera Corrida, and 

 give examples of the species which illustrate them. 



Carrot. Bill straight, large, compressed, and a little swollen on 

 the sides ; convex and curved towards the point, its edges cutting. 

 Nostrils open. Fourth quill the longest. Tail even, rounded, or 

 rectilinear. 



" The species Coma," says M. Lesson, " is very numerous in its 

 species. Birds which differ in their characters and habita from the 

 crows, properly so called which are the largest of the Paaera, 

 whose way of life is carnivorous, and their food composed of all sorts 

 of substances, especially carrion have been joined to the genus. The 

 crows possess much intelligence, are easily tamed, and become very 

 familiar. They are very voracious, and live in numerous bands, and 

 their harsh cry has been called croaking. They often commit such 

 havoc that a price is set on their head in some countries. They have 

 at all times been objects of superstition to the people. Some of the 

 crows are sedentary ; others again are travellers, and migrate annually. 

 They moult but once a year." 



The species of this genus are found in all the four quarters of the 

 globe. 



C. Corar, the Raven. This well-known bird is the K6faf of the 

 Greeks ; Currut of the Latins ; Corvo, Corbo, and Corvo Grosao of 

 the modern Italians ; El Cuervo of the Spaniards ; Corbeau of the 

 French ; Der Rabe and Der Kolkrabe of the Germans ; Korp of the 

 Swedes ; Raun of the Danes ; Corbie of the Scotch ; Cigfran of the 

 Welsh ; Kaw-kaw-gew of the Cree Indians ; and Toolloo-ak of the 

 Esquimaux. Sir John Richardson says that it abounds in the Fur 

 Countries, and visits the remotest islands of the Polar Seas. "It 

 frequents the Barren Grounds even in the most intense winter colds, 

 ito movements being directed in a great measure by those of the herds 

 of rein-deer, musk-oxen, and bison, which it follows, ready to assist in 

 devouring such as are killed by beasts of prey or by accident. No 

 sooner has a hunter slaughtered an animal than these birds are seen 

 coming from various quarters to feast on the offal ; and considerable 

 numbers constantly attend the fishing stations, where they show 

 equal boldness and rapacity. The experienced native, when he sees 

 from afar a Bock of ravens wheeling in small circles, knows that a 

 party of hi* countrymen well provided with venison are encamped on 

 the pot, or that a band of wolves are preying upon the carcass of some 

 of the larger quadrupeds, and pushes on briskly in the certain pros- 

 pect of having his wants supplied. The thievish habits of a tame 

 raven are well known ; but it is remarkable that, inhabiting in a wild 

 state the most secluded and worst peopled districts of America, it 

 should exhibit the same disposition to carry off shining metallic 

 bodies and other articles totally unfit either for food or to be used in 

 the construction of its nest. Mr. Kendall, in crossing the height of land 

 which divides the waters that (low towards Hudson's Bay from those 

 which fall into the Arctic Sea, saw a raven flying off with something 

 in his claws pursued by a number of his clamourous companions. 

 The bird being fired at dropped the object of contention, which 

 proved to be the lock of a chest." 



The aptitude of the raven for articulating clearly is generally 

 admitted. Mr. Swainson says, " One belonging to Mr. Henslow, of 

 St. Albans, speaks so distinctly that when first we heard it we were 

 actually deceived in thinking it was a human voice : and there is 

 another at Chatham which has made equal proficiency ; for living in 

 the vicinity of a guard-house it has more than once turned out the 

 guard, who thought they were called by the sentinel on duty." 



Sir John Richardson (' Fauna Boreali-Americana ') states that a 

 pied individual was killed on the south branch of the Mackenzie from 

 a flock of the common sort. Its neck, fore part of the back, and 

 part of the wings were gray ; the rest of its plumage black. 



"This," writes Dr. Latham, "is a universal species, found hotli in 

 the old and new continents ; from Greenland to the Cape of Good 

 Hope in the one, and from Hudson's Bay to Mexico in the other. It 

 was also met with by our circumnavigators in the Sandwich Isles, 

 and at Owhyhee was held in great estimation." Its appearance is 

 recorded in the first and second voyage of Parry as occurring within 

 the Arctic Circle, and in Franklin's Journal. Several pairs were seen 

 at Melville Island, and Sir John Richardson gives a description of 

 one killed at Fort Franklin in March, 1826. 



Sir James Ross (' Appendix to Sir John Ross's Second Voyage,' 

 p. 28), speaking of the Raven, says, " This is one of the few birds that 

 are capable of braving the severity of an arctic winter, and of enduring 

 the scorching rays of a tropical sun without any change being pro- 

 duced in its plumage by the extremes of climate. Cuvier and other 

 authors mention that in the north it is frequently found more or less 

 white : we never saw anything corroborative of such an observation. 

 It preserves its plumage and peculiar characteristics unchanged in 

 every quarter of the globe." 



In his 'History of British Birds,' Mr. Yarrell has gone into a 

 minute investigation of the structure of the larynx in the Raven, in 

 which he shows that its power of voice depends on the complicated 

 nature of the muscular apparatus with which this organ is supplied. 



C. frugiltgut (Linn.), the Rook. This well-known gregarious and 

 familiar bird (for it seems to affect the neighbourhood of man, and 

 even not to be scared by the smoky atmosphere of great towns) is the 

 Cornacchia Nera and Cornacchione of the Italians ; Graye, Grolle, 

 Freux, and Frayonne of the French; Corneille Moissoneuse of Brisson ; 

 Schwartze Krahe of the Germans ; Roka of the Swedes ; and Ydfrau 

 of the Welsh. 



Tlend nnd Foot of Ilook (Corvnsfrngilegus). 



Belon and Cains, the latter of whom names the Rook Spermoloyus, 

 tea Pnujilega, appear to be of opinion that it is the 2*tpfiok6yos of 

 Aristotle (' Hist. Anim.' viii. 3). It is doubtless, as Pennant observes, 

 the Connu of Virgil, who has happily described a flock of them 

 14 E pasta decedens agmine magno." (' Georg.' lib. i. v. 381.) 



The Rook is spread over the greater part of Europe ; but nowhere 

 does it seem to be more abundant than in Great Britain and Ireland. 

 Wooded and cultivated districts are its favourite haunts. The 

 farther north the observer goes in Scotland the fewer rooks does he 

 see. In Orkney and Shetland there are none, nor are there any in 

 Guernsey and Jersey. They do not appear to be numerous in Den- 

 mark, nor in the southern districts of Sweden, nor in Russia and 

 northern Asia, though they may be seen there. In Italy the Rook is 

 common and permanent ; but it appears to be migratory over a part 

 of the continent of Europe. In France it is also common, and the 

 following quatrain appears under the cut of it in the 'Portraits 

 d'Oyseaux :' 



" Jamais Ic Frcnx nc hantc le rivagc, 

 Et ne He paint que de grainr'et.de.verB, 

 II cst oyaeaucommun, gros et[ pervers, 

 Qui vole en trouppe, ct crie 4 ravantape." 



It occurs between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea ; and Dr. Von 

 Siebold and M. Burger note it among the European birds seen by 

 them in Japan. 



Grain, and insects especially, form the food of the Rook, and there 

 can be- no doubt that it amply repays the, farmer for the seed which 

 it takes by its assiduity jn clearing his land of wire-worms and the 

 larveo of the Cockchafer (Mdolontha vulgarit). These last arc called 



