126 PASSERES. CORVID^E. 



merous family of Finches, (Frinffilfad&) t which is 

 typical of the whole. The other families are Cor- 

 vidte, Paradiseadte, Sturnidce, Colidce, Musopha- 

 gadce, and Bucerotidce. 



FAMILY I. 



These are among the largest of the Passerine 

 birds, but though widely spread, are comparatively 

 few in number. Their beak is very powerful, 

 more or less compressed at the sides, conical, but 

 long, the upper mandible generally arched, the 

 gape nearly straight, the nostrils concealed by stiff 

 bristles pointing forwards. Their pbmage is of 

 dark and unobtrusive colours, often black more or 

 less glossed, and occasionally varied with gray or 

 white. The group denominated Jays, however, 

 form an exception to this sombre coloration, for 

 they are mostly arrayed in the richest azure and 

 purple. These too are more exclusively arboreal 

 than the other Corvidce, which walk a great deal 

 on the ground. 



The Crows are birds of firm and compact struc- 

 ture ; their wings are long, pointed, and powerful ; 

 their feet and claws robust. In disposition they 

 are bold and daring, extremely sagacious, easily 

 tamed and made familiar. Most of them have the 

 faculty of imitating the sounds which they hear, 

 and even the words of human language, with 

 much precision, but their natural voices are loud, 

 harsh, and guttural. They evince a remarkable 

 propensity for thieving, and hiding substances that 

 are of no use whatever to them, particularly if 



