12 CORVID^ CORVUS 



eggs of the European Eaven (Corvus corax). They average 2-05 

 x 1-32. 



The same nest is occupied year after year. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Cape Town the eggs are usually laid in August. 



Genus II. CORYUS. 



Type. 

 Gorvus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 155 (1766) ........................ C. corax. 



Beak hard, stout, compressed, straight at the base, arching 

 towards the point and sharp at the edges. Nostrils basal, in a 

 more or less denned groove and generally hidden by stiff feathers 

 directed forwards. Wings long and graduated ; the first primary 

 much shorter than the second, but more than half as long as the 

 third, the fourth the longest. Tail more or less graduated, of 

 twelve feathers. Tarsus longer than the middle toe, scutellated 

 anteriorly. Toes large and strong, the outer and middle toe united 

 as far as the first joint ; claws strong, curved and sharp. Plumage 

 slightly glossy. Sexes alike. 



The genus Corvus includes many species of birds popularly 

 known as Eavens, Crows, Eooks, and Jackdaws. They are mostly 

 of large size, and usually of sombre colours ; omnivorous as regards 

 food, and with harsh voices. They pair for life, and build large 

 basket-like nests of sticks in trees or on rocks, some of them 

 in holes. With the exception of the Cape Black Crow, all the 

 species lay bluish-green eggs more or less spotted and blotched 

 with various shades of brown or olive-brown. 



The Crows range over the whole of Europe, Africa, and North 

 America, the greater portion of Asia, and a considerable part of 

 Australasia. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Plumage black and white. Bill stout and strong, curving 



rather abruptly towards the tip ................................. C. scapulatu-8. 



b. Plumage entirely black. Bill rather slender and straight, 



curving gently towards the tip ................................. C. capensis. 



2. CorYUS scapulatus. Pied Crow. 



~ 



La Corneille a scapulaire blanc, Levaill. Ois. (VAfr. ii, p. 14, pi. 53 



(1799). 



Corvus scapulatus, Daud. Traite, ii, p. 232 (1800) ; Gray, Gen. Birds, 

 ii, p. 315 (1847) ; Layard, B. S Afr. p. 168 (1867) ; Gurney in Ander- 



