Jackdaw. 



INSESSORES. CORVUS. 



337 



posits part of its provision, but whatever it can purloin in the 

 course of its domestic rounds. 



It is generally found throughout Europe, and, according 

 to Temminck, is very abundant in Holland. 



Plate 31. Fig. 1. Natural size. 



Bill black. Irides greyish-white. Top of the head black, 

 with violet reflections, the feathers distinct and rounded. 

 Back part of the head and nape of the neck dark smoke- 

 grey, the feathers open and silky in texture. Upper 

 parts greyish-black. AVing coverts and secondary quills 

 black, glossed with blue and violet. Under parts bluish- 

 black. Legs, toes, and claws, black. 

 White varieties are sometimes met with, and in these the 

 irides are red. Others entirely black, or black and 

 white, are mentioned by different authors. 



General 

 desrrip- 

 tion. 



Varieties. 



Genus PICA, Briss. PIE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill strong, compressed, with the upper mandible arched, 

 the tip slightly emarginate, and bent over that of the lower 

 one. Commissure gently arched. Nostrils basal, lateral, 

 round, hidden from view by incumbent setaceous feathers. 

 Thighs short, rounded ; the first quill-feather narrow, and 

 little more than half the length of the second ; the fourth 

 and fifth of nearly equal length, and the longest in the wing. 

 Tail long, and graduated. 



Legs of mean length, with the tarsi and toes plated. 

 Outer toe joined at its base to the middle one. Claws strong, 

 and curved ; that of the hind toe the largest. 



The Pies, although nearly allied to the Crows, differ suffi- 

 ciently from them in form and habits, to warrant the generic 

 separation first made by Brisson, and since adopted by most 



