364 INSESSORES. FREGILUS. 



tinged with yellowish-brown. The female is similar in 



plumage to the male. 



Accidental varieties are sometimes found of a pure white, 

 with the wing-coverts pale blue. In such instances, the bill, 

 irides, and legs are pale flesh-red. 



GENUS FREGILUS, Cuv. CHOUGH. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill longer than the head, strong at the base, arched, 

 slightly compressed, with the end of the upper mandible 

 rather subulated, drawn to a point without any emargina- 

 tion, and extending beyond that of the lower, which follows 

 the curve of the upper one, without showing any distinct 

 angle. Commissure arched. Tomia of both mandibles entire. 

 Nostrils basal, oval, hidden by closely-set incumbent seta- 

 ceous feathers. Head small, and flat. Wings long, extend- 

 ing to more than two-thirds of the length of the tail. First 

 quill-feather short ; the fourth and fifth the longest in each 

 wing. Tail square, or slightly rounded. Nostrils open, 

 basal, lateral and egg-shaped, hidden by the reflected bristles 

 at the base of the bill. Feet strong. Legs and toes plaited. 

 The tarsus longer than the middle toe. Toes four, three 

 before and one behind ; the outer toe united at its base to 

 the middle one. Claws strong, much curved ; that of the 

 hind toe double the size of the others. 



The birds of this genus (which was established by CUVIER 

 for the reception of the Cornish Chough, and other exotic 

 species) are easily distinguished from the true Crows by the 

 peculiar form of the bill, which indicates a different econo- 

 my, and approaches near to that of Epimachus, and some of 

 the Birds of Paradise, and to which it seems to lead the 

 way. These birds are the inhabitants of lofty precipices on 



