16 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



THE NUTCRACKERS. GENUS NUCIFRAGA. 



Nucifraga, Briss., Orn., ii., p. 58 (1760). 



Type, N. caryocatactes (Linn.). 



The Nutcrackers differ in structure from the Rooks, the 

 Ravens, and the Crows in the proportions of the wing-feathers, 

 the first primary quill being very short, and not equal to the 

 secondaries in length. The bill is very thin, conical, and long, 

 resembling that of the Rook in shape, but of course having the 

 nostrils always covered with bristles. The wing is somewhat 

 rounded, the innermost secondary quills being gradually shorter 

 than the outer ones. 



Four species of Nutcrackers are now recognised, one, N. 

 columbiana, being confined to the New World, and three to 

 the Old. Of these, JV. caryocatactes occasionally visits Great 

 Britain, the other two, N. Iteniispila and N. multipunctata, 

 being inhabitants of the Himalayan sub-region. 



THE NUTCRACKER, NUCIFRAGA CARYOCATACTES. 



Corvus caryocatactes, Linn., S. N., i., p. 157 (1766); Lilford, 



Col. Fig. Brit. B., pt. iv. (1887). 

 Nucifraga caryocatactes, Macg.,Br. B., i., p. 583 (1837) ; Dresser, 



B. Eur., iv., p. 451, pi. 252 (1874) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 



Mus., iii., p. 53 (1877); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 330 (1878) ; 



B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 67 (1883); Seeb., Hist. Br. B., i., 



p. 583 (1883); Saunders, Man., p. 223 (1889). 



Adult Male. Back brown, with a triangular white spot on 

 each feather ; head dark brown ; outer tail-feather white at tip, 

 the basal half black; central primaries with a large patch of 

 white near the base of the inner web ; rump and upper tail- 

 coverts brown, uniform ; bill and feet black ; iris dark brown. 

 Total length, 13 inches; culmen, 1*95; wing, 7-3; tail, 5-2; 

 tarsus, i -i. 



Sexes alike in colour. 



Young. Duller in colour than the adult and browner, the 

 feathers generally more fluffy; wing-coverts tipped with dull 

 white ; under tail-coverts dingy white. 



Two forms of Nutcracker in Europe are recognised by 



