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VERTEBRATA. 



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TI1>' FJLUTE-PLATIXG CASSICAN. 



THE HOODED-CKOW OF EUROPE. 



THE COrvYID^ OR CROWS. 



This family includes not only the typical crows, but a number of other groups, as the Piping- 

 Crows, the Jays^ the Tree-Crows, the Magpies, Choughs, Jackdaws, and Paradise Birds. These 

 are all omnivorous, feeding on fruits and animal substances of various kinds. 



THE STREPERINJE OR PIPING-CROWS. 



These birds — the Cassicans of some authors ; the Baritas of Cuvier — belong to Australia and 

 the adjacent islands : they are distinguished from the other Corvidae by the form of the nostrils, 

 each of which consists of a long, narrow slit in the substance of the bill, and is usually completely 

 exposed. The bill itself is long and compressed, broad at the base, where the ridge projects upon 

 the forehead, and the tip is more or less notched. They are restless, noisy, and omnivorous like 

 other crows, but, unlike them, they have some musical notes. One species, the Flute-playing 

 Cassican, Gymnorhina tibicen, is of a grayish-brown color, and is very voracious, even devouring 

 small birds. The Wakening Cassican, Coracias strepcra of Latham, is found in Norfolk Island; 

 it never sleeps at night, but keeps the country round awake by its sonorous cries. 



THE GARRULIN^ OR JAYS. 



Genus GARIIULUS : Garrulus. — This includes the Common Jay of Europe — the Gaza 

 Verla of the Italians, the Geai of the French, and Hoh-Hdher of the Germans — G. glandarius. 

 It is a very beautiful bird, sixteen inches long, of a light reddish-brown color, with the primary 

 wing-coverts bright blue, elegantly banded with black. The feathers of the fore part of the 

 head arc whitish, spotted with black, and elongated so as to form a crest, which the bird can 

 erect at pleasure ; the quill-feathers of the wings and tail, and a streak on each side of the chin, 

 are black. It is common throughout Europe ; inhabits thick woods, and is shy in its habits. It 

 feeds to a great extent upon vegetable matters, such as acorns and beech-mast, and in summer 

 often visits gardens, tempted by the cultivated fruits. It also feeds on insects and worms. Its 

 nest is formed in tall bushes, or in the lower branches of trees ; but always well concealed among 



