CORVINE. 101 



ries narrowed toward the end, and separated when the 

 wing is expanded ; the first very short, the fourth and 

 fifth longest. 



Birds of this order are found in all parts of the globe. 

 They are frequently gregarious ; those which feed chiefly 

 on larva?, worms, or seeds, are always so. Most of the 

 larger species are omnivorous. They walk with ease, leap 

 under excitement, or even run with considerable speed. 

 Their flight is strong, generally performed by regularly 

 timed beats. They nestle and rest in high places, some- 

 times, however, in holes, even in the ground. The nest 

 of the larger species is rudely, of the smaller neatly, 

 constructed. The eggs, from three to ten in number, are 



OO ' 



spotted, and the young, at first blind and thinly covered 

 with down, remain until fledged. 



FAMILY XII. CORVINJE. CORVINE BIRDS 

 OR CROWS. 



Body ovate, compact, moderately stout ; neck short or 

 moderate ; head large, oval, rather flattened above. Bill 

 about the length of the head, stout, nearly straight, com- 

 pressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the dorsal 

 line arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex, the edges sharp, 

 with a slight notch or sinus close to the end, the tip 

 slightly deflected. Palate anteriorly with several longi- 

 tudinal ridges ; tongue oblong, emarginate and papillate 

 at the base, flat above, horny and thin-edged toward the 

 tip, which is slit and lacerated ; throat of moderate width ; 

 oesophagus of nearly uniform width ; proventriculus bul- 

 biform ; stomach a gizzard of moderate power, elliptical, 

 with the lateral muscles somewhat distinct, the cuticular 

 lining of moderate thickness, and longitudinally rugous ; 

 intestine of moderate length ; cceca small, cylindrical, ad- 

 nate ; rectum with an oblong or globular dilatation. Eyes 



