11 



The Crows are divided into three subfamilies by the following 

 characters : 



The first primary much exceeding half the 



Jength of the second ; plumage more or 

 ess glossy and firm ; length of the bill 

 considerably more than its depth ...... Corvince, p. 11. 



The first primary never exceeding half the 

 length of the second and usually much 

 less than half ; plumage firm ; length 

 of bill considerably more than its depth . Paring p. 45. 

 The first primary much exceeding half the 

 length of the second ; plumage very lax 

 and copious ; length of bill usually equal 

 to, or less than, its depth, only very occa- 

 sionally slightly longer .............. 



[p. 60. 



Subfamily CORVINE. 



This subfamily contains the Crows, Magpies, Jays, Nutcrackers, 

 and Choughs. All species occurring in India are resident in the 

 Empire except the Book and the Hooded Crow, which are winter 

 visitors to the North-west. Their summer-quarters are, however, 

 not far off and their migrations are only partial and local. The 

 members of the genus Corvus, or the true Crows, are birds of wide 

 distribution, but most of the members of the other genera are 

 restricted to small areas. 



The Corvince vary a good deal inter se in structure and habits. 

 In one or two genera the nostrils are not so completely hidden by 

 bristles as in the typical Crows. The majority feed habitually on 

 the ground, others are strictly arboreal. They all agree in laying 

 four or five spotted eggs ; but their mode of nidification varies ex- 

 tremely, some species breeding in holes of trees and cliffs, and 

 others, the majority, constructing large nests of sticks and twigs. 

 Most of them are omnivorous, but some of the smaller tropical 

 species appear to confine their diet to insects. 



The Corvince, as a subfamily, have few characters in common, 

 and yet there is no group of birds which is more easily recog- 

 nized. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Nostrils distant from forehead about one 

 third length of bill j naral bristles rigid and 

 straight, reaching to about middle of bill ; or 

 rictal bristles and feathers on front of face 



altogether absent. 

 a'. Tail much short 

 b'. Tail much longer than wing ............ PICA, p 



Tail much shorter than wing .......... CORVUS, p. 12. 



. 23. 



