PASSERINE. 203 



The Oxykyxchus, Tem., 



Has a conical and very sharp bill, [not thick, and] shorter than the head. 



The only known species (Or. flammiceps, Tem.), "has a partly red crest, like many Tyrants. [The affinities of 

 this bird are most puzzling. It obviously belongs to the distinct division Passermee, and therefore has no parti- 

 cular relationship with the Woodpeckers, contiguous to which it is arranged by some. Colour, green above, 

 whitish and spotted Uke a Thrush on the breast. Inhabits Brazil.] 



The Fitpits, BufF. {Dacnis, Cuv.") — 

 Represent the Baltimores on a diminutive scale, having the beak conical and sharp-pointed. 

 [They consist of some of the Sylvicoles, p. 191.] 



The Starlings {Sturnus, Lin.) — 

 Differ from the Troopials only by a compressed beak, particidarly towards the point, [which is obtuse 

 and nail-like. 

 [There are two in Europe, one generally diffused, and extending eastward to China,— 



The Common Starling (fit. vulgaris, Lin.).— At first dull brown, then finely glossed black, with a pale tip to each 

 feather, imparting a pretty speckled appearance ; the clothing feathers are successively more elongated and 

 pointed for several moults, and most of their pale temdual specks finally disappear altogether, the bill also 

 becoming rich yellow. It is easily tamed and taught to speak*, and very social in its habits, flying in large 

 Hocks : flesh bad-tasted. The other species (St. unicolor) has still longer pointed clothing feathers, and never 

 any whitish spots : inhabits the south of Europe, and particidarly Sardinia.] 



We can perceive no characters of sufficient importance to sanction the separation, from the 

 Conirostres, of the genera belonging to the family of Crows, which have precisely the same 

 internal structure, as well as the same external organs, being distinguished only by a nuich 

 greater size, which allows some of them to piu-sue other birds; their strong beak is often 

 laterally compressed. 



The genera are three in number, viz., the Crows, Birds of Paradise, and the Rollers [which 

 last alone do not possess the distinctive characters of the PasserincE]. 



The Crows (Corvus, Lin.) — 

 Have a strong beak, more or less compressed, and the nostrils covered with stiff incumbent bristles 

 directed forwards. They are sagacious birds, and their sense of smelling is very acute ; they have 

 generally the habit of purloining articles that are quite useless to them, as pieces of money, &c. 



We apply the name of Crow, or Raven, more particularly to certain large species, which have the 

 stoutest beaks of any, and the ridge of the upper mandible most arcuated. Then- tail is round or 

 square. ' 



The Raven (C. corax, Lin.), is the largest Passerine bird found in Europe, equalling a fowl in size. Its plumage 

 is wholly black, the tail rounded; ridge of the upper mandible arched anteriorly. Its habits are more retiring 

 than those of its congeners, [except where it is quite unmolested] ; flight, vigorous and lofty ; scents carrion at the 

 distance of a league ; and also feeds on fruit and upon small animals, even carrying off poultry ; it nestles on lofty 

 trees or in steep precipices, is easily tamed, and readily learns to speak. This bird appears to be found in all 

 parts of the world, [a fallacious opinion, very generally received : (ew travellers that have seen a large black spe- 

 cies of Corvus have troubled themselves to ascertain that it was the Raven ; and collectors have generally neglected 

 to procure a bird, which they supposed was not uncommon at home ; the truth being, that there are as many as 

 six or seven species confounded under the name, several of which are readily distinguishable upon actual com- 

 parison. The similitude of the common Crow and Rook of Europe should have rendered naturalists cautious in 

 identifying the species of this genus]. 



The Corby Crow (C. corone, Lin.). — A fourth less than the Raven, with a square tail, and heak less arcuated. 



The Rook (C.frugilegus, Lin.). — Smaller still, with a [comparatively] straight beak, more pointed than that of 

 the last. Excepting when young, the head is bare of feathers as far back as the eyes, which the bird probably 

 wears o.ff in digging up the grubs on which it feeds. 



These two species live in great flocks, nestling even in society ; [certainly, however, not the first of them]. They 

 devour grain as well as insects. Are found throughout Europe; remaining in the winter, however, only in the 

 milder districts. [The Corby Crow is much more carnivorous than the Rook, and very destructive to egirs and 

 young game : we have known it attempt to fly off vith a young Turkey nearly as big as itself: it is very seldom 

 that the Rook attacks other birds, but we have known a party of this species to destroy a brood of ilissel Thrushes 

 that had recently left the nest.] 



• We have kiiuviu a Slarlinu l.j learn tlie son^' .jf the Nighlin^ale, anil warble it to pcrf. ctiou. 



