166 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



STURNID^E (STARLINGS}. 



Bill straight, slender, and without bristles at the gape ; wings with 

 ten primaries, the first rudimentary, the second longest; tarsus 

 moderately long, scutellated in front, plated behind. 



Sturnus vulgaris, STARLING, 1. 13. 



CORVID^E (CROWS). 



Bill large and conical, or long and curved, emargination sometimes 

 well-developed, sometimes quite obsolete; nasal fossae and nostrils 

 usually more or less concealed by narrow stiffened bristles or bristly 

 feathers ; primaries ten, wings rounded, first primary almost always 

 more than half the length of the second ; tarsus scutellated in front, 

 feet and claws strong, basal joint of middle toe united about equally 

 to lateral toes for about half the length. 



Corvus corax, RAVEN, I. 21. 



Corvus comix (Corvus cinerea), HOODED CROW, II. 101 



Corvus corone, CARRION CROW, II. 1 



Corvus frugilegus, ROOK, I. 29 



Corvus monedula, JACKDAW, I. 45 



Garrulus glandarius (Corvus glandarius), JAY, I. 37 



Pica rustica (Corvus picus), MAGPIE, I. 5 



Pyrrhocorax graculus (Corvus graculus, Fregilus graculus), CHOUGH, 

 II. 133 



HIRUNDINID^E (SWALLOWS). 



Bill short, triangular, very broad at base, narrowing rapidly to a 

 compressed notched tip, mouth opening nearly to the eyes ; primaries 

 nine, wings long, pointed; tail generally forked, with twelve feathers; 

 feet weak, tarsus scutellate, shorter than middle toe and claw. 



Chelidon urbica (Hirundo urbica), MARTIN, II. 65 

 Cotile riparia (Hirundo riparia), SAND MARTIN, III. 81 

 Hirundo rustica (H. domestica), SWALLOW, II. 5 



PICARLffi. 



Primaries always ten ; tail-feathers commonly ten (eight to twelve) ; 

 hallux inconsiderable, weak or wanting, not always incumbent ; second 

 or fourth toe frequently versatile. - 



