174< CLASS AVES. 



* 



The species mentioned by Osbec, by Hernandez, 

 &c., are but ill authenticated. As for those of Pallas, 

 it is to be regretted that there are no figures. The 

 stares of Daudin should go back to the thrushes and 

 philedons, and his quiscala partly to the martens and 

 partly the cassiques. In general, Daudin may be said 

 to have completed the confusion of this genus, already 

 very badly defined by his predecessors.* 



We see no sufficient character whereby to dis- 

 tinguish accurately from the conii'ostres the genera 

 of the corvine family, which have all the same internal 

 structure, the same external organs, and are charac- 

 terized only by a generally larger size, which enables 

 them sometimes to hunt the smaller birds. Their 

 powerful bill is most frequently compressed at the 

 sides. 



These genera are three in number, the crows, 

 birds of paradise, and rollers. 



The Crows. (Corvus. Lin.) 



Have a strong bill, more or less flatted at the sides ; 

 the nostrils are covered with stiff hairs, directed for- 

 ward. They are subtle birds, whose scent is very 

 fine, and who have, in general, a habit of taking and 

 hiding things which are even useless to them, as. 

 pieces of money, &c. 



• To these, others have added — 

 § Sturnus Dauricus. Lath. Graculu Stumina. Pallas. 

 § Sturnus Olivaceus. Lath. Osbec. 

 § Sturnus Sericeus. Lath.pl. 21. lUust. Brown. 

 § Sturnus Vhidis. Lath. Osbec. 



