COEVUS. 13 



longer than the wing, aiid by the shape of the first primary, which 

 is figured 011 p. 23. 



The Crows are as a rule resident, but two species visit India 

 only in the winter. 



The Rook forms a partial exception to the general characters 

 given above for determining Corvus. Up to nine months of age it 

 has the ordinary stiff bristles over the nostrils, but at that age it 

 casts them all off, as well as the feathers on the front part of the 

 head. Its appearance in this state is well depicted in the figure 

 of the head given on p. 19. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Of larger size ; wing always over 15 inches. 

 a'. Hackles of throat long and distinct; 



entire plumage glossy black C. coraz, p. 14. 



V. Hackles of throat short and not distinct 

 or prominent ; head, mantle, and lower 

 plumage brown C. umbrinus, p. 15. 



b. Of smaller size : wing rarely reaching or 



exceeding 14 inches. 

 c'. Hind neck black like crown. 



a". Lower plumage with little gloss, 



and this blue or green; bill deeper ; 



face always feathered. 



a'". Plumage intensely black ; the 



feathers of the hind neck firm and 



glossy, with distinct, glistening 



shafts C. corone, p. 16. 



b'". Plumage not intensely black; 

 feathers of the hind neck soft 

 and decomposed, almost gloss- 

 less, and their shafts not dis- 

 tinguishable from the webs .... C. macrorhynchus, p. 17. 

 b". Lower plumage brilliantly glossy at 

 all ages, the gloss purple and lilac ; 

 bill slender ; face bare in adults . . C. fruyilegus, p. 18. 

 d'. Hind neck grey or ashy, contrasting 



with the black crown. 



c 1 '. Of larger size ; wing over 12 inches. C. comix, p. 19. 

 d". Of smaller size ; wing rarely exceed- 

 ing 11 inches. 



c'". Chin and throat deep black in 



contrast with breast ; culmen 



more than 1'6 in. in length and 



well curved. 



a 1 . Hind neck and sides of neck 



typically light grey C. splendens, p. 20. 



b 4 . Hind neck and sides of neck 



typically dark grey C. insolens, p. 21. 



d'". Chin and throat of much the same 

 colour as breast ; culmen under 

 1-3 in., and straight C. monedula, p. 22. 



