COMPENDIUM OF GENEEIC DISTINCTIONS. 



773 



Gentm. Strepera. — Bill, keel rounded and elevated at 

 base. Wings, fourth and fifth quills longest, first very- 

 short. Tail squared. Habitat — Australia. 



Suh-family. Garrulinae.— Bill moderate, compressed, 

 keel suddenly curved at tip. Wings moderate, rounded. 

 Tail various. Tarsi moderate, strongly scaled, toes long. 



Genus. Garrulus. — Bill not so long as head ; nostrils 

 hidden by plumes. Wings, fourth, fifth, and sixth quills 

 longest. Tail nearly even. Outer toe longer than inner ; 

 hind toe long and strong. Habitat — Old World. 



Genus. Ctanocorax. — Bill slightly compressed, nostrils 

 partly hidden by plumes. Wings, fourth to sixth quills 

 longest. Tail long and rounded. Habitat — New World. 



Genus. Cissa. — Bill large, keel elevated, tip hooked, 

 sides much compressed ; nostrils partly covered with plumes. 

 Wings, fourth and fifth quills longest. Tail long and gra- 

 duated. Outer toe httle longer than iunei-. Habitat — 

 India and Archipelago. 



Suh-family. Calleatinae. — Bill short, much curved above, 

 sides compressed. Wings short and rounded. Tail long 

 and graduated. Tarsi broadly scaled in front. 



Genus. Temnurus. — Bill, nostrils small, rounded, hidden 

 by plumes and bristles. Wings, fourth to sixth quills 

 longest. Outer toe longer than inner. Habitat — India. 



Genus. Ceypsiuhina. — Bill, tip notched, base and nos- 

 trils hidden by plumes. Wings, fifth and sixth quills 

 longest. Outer toe longer than inner. Habitat — India. 



Suh-family. Corvinae. — Bill, base broad, rather curved 

 above. Wings long and rounded. Tail various. Tarsi 

 broadly scaled in front. Toes moderate, strong ; two exte- 

 rior equal. 



Genus. Nucifraga. — Bill long, nostrils at sides of base, 

 and covered by bristles. Wings, fourth and fifth quills 

 longest. Tail moderate, rounded on sides. Toes long, 

 strong, and broadly scaled. Habitat — Europe and Asia. 



Genus. Pica. — Bill long, tip slightly hooked; nostrils 

 rounded and hidden by bristles. Wings, fourth and fifth 

 quills longest, first very short. Tail long and graduated. 

 Tarsi long, toes short and strong. Habitat — Old World and 

 North America. 



Genus. CORVUS. — Bill strong and mostly long ; nostrils 

 covered by bristly plumes, except when forehead bare. 

 Wings long and pointed, tliird and fourth quills longest. 

 Habitat — Most parts of world. 



Genus. Picathartes. — Bill rather flattened ; nostrils in 

 large membranous groove and exposed, upper part of head 

 and cheeks bare. Wings, sixth and seventh quills longest. 

 Tail, very long and rounded. Tarsi long and slender. 

 Habitat — Africa. 



Suhfamily. Gymnoderinse. — Bill straight, rather flat- 

 tened, sides compressed to tip ; nostrils in membranous 

 groove. Wings long and pointed. Tail moderate and 

 rounded. Tarsi long, transversely scaled. Toes long, outer 

 nearly equal to middle ; claws long, curved, and sharp. 



Genus. Gtmnoderus. — Bill rather short, broad at base, 

 groove of nostrils clothed with down. Wings, third to fifth 

 quills longest. Tail even. Sides of neck bare, head and 

 front of neck scantily clothed with down. Habitat — 

 Guiana, &c. 



Genus. Cephalopterxjs. — Bill long, opening of nostrils 

 large. Male with large overhanging crest on head, breast 

 bare with pendulous pencil of plumes. Wings, third quill 

 longest. Habitat — Brazil. 



Suh-faynily. PyiThocoracinse. — Bill long, slender, curved ; 

 nostrils hidden by broad plumes. Wings long and pointed. 

 Tail long. 



Genus. Coracia. — Wings, fourth quill longest. Tail 

 moderate, nearly equal. Tarsi short, broadly scaled in 

 front, exterior toes nearly equal. Habitat — Europe and 

 Asia. 



Family. PARADISEID.ffi.— BiU long, strong, curved 

 above ; nostrils hiililcn by short plumes. Wings long and 

 rounded. Tarsi with single long scale. Outer toe longer 

 than inner, united to middle at base, hind toe very long, 

 claws long and curved. 



Genus. Paradisea. — BDl, sides compressed to tip. 

 Wings, fourth to seventh quills longest. Tail long and 

 broad. Tarsi rather long. Sides of neck, breast, body, tail, 

 and sometimes head with long drooping feathers. Habitat — 

 New Guinea. 



Family. STTJRNIDiE.— Bill, sides compressed. Wings 

 long and pointed. Tail rather long. Tarsi strong and broadly 

 scaled in front. Toes long and strong, hind toe very long. 



Suhfamily. Ptilonorhynchinse. — Bill moderate ; upper 

 mandible scooped at tip. 



Genus. Ptilonorhynchus. — Bill, nostrils sunken, large, 

 nearly covered by plumes. Wings, fourth and fifth quills 

 longest, three first gi-aduated. Tail short, even. Outer toe 

 longer than inner. Habitat — Australia. 



Genus. Chlamydera. — Bill, nostrils rounded, exposed, 

 in a membrane. Wings, third and fourth quills longest, 

 first two unequal. Tail long and rounded. Habitat — Aus- 

 tralia. 



Genus. Astrapia. — Bill, sides much compressed ; nos- 

 trils sunken, partly hidden by plumes. Wings, third and 

 fourth (?) quills longest. Tail very long, and deeply gra- 

 duated. Habitat — New Guinea. 



Suhfamily. Graculinse. — BOl broad at base, much com- 

 pressed, slightly curved above ; nostrils exposed. Wmgs 

 long, first quiU short, third and fourth longest. Tail short. 

 Tarsi short. Toes long. 



Genus. Gracula. — Bill long. Wings, first quill rudi- 

 mental. Tail various. Tarsi strong, hind toe very long. 

 Parts of head bare. Habitat — India, New Guinea. 



Suhfamily. Buphaginae.— Bill moderate, broad, slightly 

 flattened above ; nostrils partly closed by membrane. Tail 

 long, graduated, each feather pointed. Tarsi short and 

 strong. Toes moderate. 



Genus. Buphaga Bill, sides of lower mandible very 



broad, projecting under eyes. Wings, third quill longest. 

 Habitat — Africa. 



Sub-family. Sturninae. — Bill, tip rather blunt and flat- 

 tened ; nosti'ils in membranous groove. Tail short. Tarsi 

 long. Toes long and strong. 



Gemis. Pastor. — Bill, groove of nostrils clothed with 

 short feathers. Wings, second quill longest, first spurious. 

 Tail even. Tarsi transversely scaled. Habitat — Asia, Africa, 

 and temperate EurojDe. 



Genus. Sturnus. — Bill sharp, straight, and conical groove 

 of nostiils feathered. Wings, second quill longest, thu'd 

 nearly as long, first spurious. Habitat— Most parts of 

 world. 



Suh-family. Quiscalinae.— Bill long, slightly curved at 

 tip ; nostrils in triangular groove. Tail long and graduated. 

 Hind toe long. 



Genus. Quiscalus. — Bill, upper mandible overhanging 

 lower ; nostrils oval, partly closed by membrane. Wings, 

 second to fourth qiulls longest. Tail, .sides turned up. 

 Habitat — North America. 



Suh-family. Icterinae. — Bill rather long. Tail long. 

 Tarsi moderate and broadly scaled. Toes moderate and 



strong. 



Geyius. Cacicus. — Bill advancing in crescent on fore- 

 head, sides compressed, tip sharp ; nostrils oval, pierced in. 

 bill. Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tad graduated. 

 Habitat — Tropical America. 



Genus. Xanthornis. — Bill arched, upper mandible ad- 

 vancing in point on forehead ; nostrils covered with mem- 

 brane. Wings, third and fourth ipiills longest, second nearly 

 as long. Tail wedgc-shapod. Habitat — America and West 

 Indies. 



Genus. Yphantes. — Bill, upper mandible advancing in 

 point on forehead ; nosti'ils oval, covered with membi-ane. 

 Wings, second and third quills longest, first nearly equal. 

 Tail squared. Habitat — North America. 



Suh-family. Agelainae, — Bill very conical, flattened above. 

 Tarsi long as middle toe. Toes long, slender, outer united 

 at base to middle. 



