COIIVID.E — THE CROWS. 



271 



pait-jtait, with a variety of cliatti'i'iiif,' notes, in tone resembling the human 

 voice, which, indeed, tiiey can l)e taught to imitate. 



An egg of this species from Monterey, California, is of a rounded oval 

 shape, a little less obtuse at one end than the other. The ground-color is a 

 light drab, so chisely marked with lino cloudings of an obscure lavender 

 color as nearly to conceal tlie ground, and to give the egg the a])pearance of 

 an almost uniform violet-brown. It measures 1.^0 inches in length by .90 

 in breadth. 



Genus CYANURA, Swmn'.son. 



Cyammis, Swainson, F. lior.-Ain. II, 1831, 495, Appomlix. (Type, Oonnis crhlatus, 



Linn.) 

 Cijanocilitt, Cabanis, Mus. llciii. 1851 (not of SruicKi.ANP, 1845). 



Gen. Char. Ilo.id crostoil. Winp;.s .and tail l)lii(', with tr.insvcrse lilurk b.avs ; hond aiul 

 back of tlu! 8UI110 color. Bill rather .'<k'ii(ler, somewhat broader than high at the base ; 



Cijanura eristatn. 



eulnion .nbont oqu.al to the head. Nostrils largo, nearly circular, concealed by bristles. 

 Tail about as long avS the Aving.s, lengthened, graduated. Hind claw large, longer than 

 its digit. 



Species and Varieties. 



CojfMov CnAnACTERS. Wings and tail deep blue, the latter, with the .second- 

 nries and tertials, sometimes also the greater coverts, barred with bl.ack. 



A. Greater coverts, terlials, secondaries, and tail-fe.atliers tipped broadly 

 with white ; lower parts generally, including lateral and under parts of 

 head, whitish. 



C. cristata. IT(>ad above, back, scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, rump 

 and upper tail-coverts, light ashy purplish-blue ; a narrow frontal band, 

 a loral spot, streak behind the eye, and collar round the neck, eoni- 

 niencing under the crest, passing down across the end of the auriculars 

 and expanding into a ert'-scent across the jugulum, bliiek; throat tinged 

 with purplish-gray, the breast and sides with smoky-gray ; abdomen, 

 an.il region, and erissum pure white. Wing, .5.70 ; tail, 0.00; bill, 1.25; 

 tarsus, l.li.') ; middle toe, .85 ; crest, 2.20. Hub. Eastern Province of 

 North America. 



