12 CORVIDJ!. 



b. Nostrils distant from forehead less than quar- 

 ter length of bill ; naral bristles or plumes 

 short, never reaching to middle of bill. 

 c'. Tail greatly graduated, the outer feathers 



much less than half length of tail. 

 a' 1 . Middle tail-feathers of uniform width 

 throughout or widening gradually to- 

 wards the tip. 



"'. Naral bristles spare, curly, and barely 

 concealing nostrils bill red or yel- 

 low. 

 4 . Tail more than twice length of 



wing ; eyelids not wattled .:.... UROCISSA, p. 25. 

 > 4 . Tail less than twice length of wing ; 



eyelids wattled CISSA, p. 28. 



b'". Naral bristles thick, straight and quite 



concealing the nostrils ; bill black . . DEXDROCITTA, p. 30. 

 b". Middle tail-feathers suddenly broader 



near the tip CRYPSIRHINA, p. 34. 



d' '. Tail not much graduated; outer feather 



more than half length of tail. 

 c". Graduation of closed tail more than 

 length of tarsus ; rictal bristles ex- 

 tremely long PLATYSMTJRUS, p. 36. 



d". Graduation of closed tail less than 

 length of tarsus ; rictal bristles mode- 

 rate or obsolete. 

 c'". Tarsus very distinctly and coarsely 



scutellated. 

 c 4 . Bill about half length of head, deep 



and notched GARRULUS, p. 37. 



d 4 . Bill about as long as head, slender, 



not notched NUCIFRAGA, p. 40, 



d'". Tarsus smooth or with indistinct 



scutellations. 

 e 4 . Both mandibles feathered to same 



extent at base GRACULUS, p. 42. 



/*. Lower mandible much less feathered 



at base than upper PYRRHOCORAX, p. 44. 



Genus CORVUS, Linn., 1766. 



The genus Corvus contains the Havens, Crows, Eooks, and Jack- 

 daws. Nine species are found in India, some of them widely 

 distributed and well known to all, others confined to the Hima- 

 layas and the north-west portion of the Empire. 



Corvus has the plumage black throughout or nearly throughout, 

 and may be recognized by the position of the nostrils, which are 

 placed far forward, about one third the length of the bill from 

 the forehead, and are entirely concealed from view by a multitude 

 of very stiff, straight bristles that reach the middle of the bill. In 

 these characters this genus agrees with the Magpies ; but the latter 

 may be separated by the length of the tail, which is very much 



