CROW TRIBE. 



309 



crows are only found in Australia ; while magpies, nutcrackers, and choughs, are 

 characteristic of the northern and central parts of the Old World. South America 

 possesses some jays of brilliant plumage; those of the genus Xanthura having 

 beautiful blue feathers, associated with black or deeper blue markings. 



THICK-BILLED RAVEN. 



Ravens and 

 Crows. 



The genus Corvus includes all the true ravens and crows, 

 distinguished by a stout compressed bill, straight at the base, arched 

 towards the point, and sharp at the edges. The wings are long and graduated, 

 and the tail is more or less graduated. The feet are powerful, the metatarsus ex- 

 ceeding in length the middle toe. The plumage is identical in both sexes; and 

 black, more or less glossed with green or purple, decidedly predominates. Birds 

 of this genus are found throughout the whole of Europe and Asia north of the 

 line of the Himalaya, ranging into North- Western India, Australia, North America, 

 and Mexico. 



The type of this well-known genus is the large raven (Corvus 

 corax), familiar to the natives of the northern parts of both 

 hemispheres. In Japan its place is occupied by the Oriental raven, which is also 

 found in India, Ceylon, South China, and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. 

 The common raven of temperate Europe may be regarded as the parent form, and 

 thrives in a wide diversity of regions, ranging from Greenland to Spain and from 

 Portugal to Palestine, contriving constantly to adapt its habits to its immediate 



