330 



PASSERES. 



CORVID/E. 



CORVID^E. 



NUCIFRAGA CARYOCATACTES (Lmngeus*). 

 THE NUTCRACKER. 



Nucifraga caryocatactes. 



NUCIFRAGA, Brisson\. Beak about as long as the head, hard, stout and 

 straight, dilated at the base ; both mandibles terminating obtusely, the maxilla 

 prolonged and slightly depressed at the tip. Nostrils basal, round, hidden by 

 stiff feathers directed forwards. Feathers of the crown short. Wings moderate 

 and rather pointed; the first primary the shortest, the fourth, fifth and sixth 

 nearly equal, but the fifth longest. Tail moderate and nearly square. Feet 

 stout ; tarsus longer than the middle toe, to which the outer toe is united at the 

 base ; claws stout, curved and sharp. 



THE NUTCRACKER, though not uncommon in some parts 

 of Europe, occurs in this country so rarely that the examples 

 recorded as obtained may be here enumerated. The first 



* Corvus caryocatactes, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 157 (1766). 

 f Ornithologie, ii. p. 46 (1760). 



