INSESSORES. CORVUS. 345 



feed both upon animal and vegetable substances. Their 

 near connection with the SturnidcB is seen in the instance 

 of the Crow-Blackbirds (genus Quiscalus), which belongs to 

 one of the minor divisions of the latter family ; and where a 

 strong similarity to the Crows is exhibited in habits and colour, 

 as well as in the form of the bill, which organ loses in some 

 particulars the peculiar characteristics of that of the other 

 Sturnida?. From the want of species on which to ground a 

 proper analysis, the whole of the five minor groups have not 

 been satisfactorily ascertained. That of CoTvina, containing 

 the Crows and Pies, is however easily recognised, and may 

 be considered as forming the first, or pre-eminently typical 

 group, while the Jays, or subfamily Garrulina of Swainson, 

 seems entitled to rank in the second or suhtypical station. 

 The genus Frigilus (Cuvier) is considered by both Swain- 

 SON and Vigors the probable representative of another sub- 

 family, into which the Birds of Paradise and other nearly 

 allied genera will enter. And the members of the genera 

 Crypserina, Glaucopis, &c. with shorter and weaker legs, will 

 probably constitute a fourth. The fifth remains to be dis- 

 covered. 



Genus CORVUS, Linn. CROW. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill strong, conical, cultrated, strait at the base, but 

 bending slightly towards the tip ; nostrils, at the base of the 

 bill, oval, and open ; covered by reflected bristly feathers. 

 Wings pointed ; the first feather being much shorter than 

 the second and third, and the fourth being the longest. 

 Legs and feet strong, plated, with ^three toes before and one 

 behind. Claws strong, curved. Toes divided. Tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe. 



This genus is widely spread, and some of the species arc 



