ORDER PA8SERES. 175 



The larger species, with a stronger bill, compared 

 with the others, and the ridge of the upper mandible 

 more arched, are more especially called Crows. Their 

 tail is round or square. 



The Raven ( Corvus Corax. Lin.) Vaill. Ap. pi. 51. 



Is the largest bird of the passerine order found in 

 Europe, being as big as the cock. Its plumage is 

 entirely black, the tail round, the back of the upper 

 mandible arched forward. It lives more retired than 

 the other species, flies weU and high, smells carcasses 

 at a league distance, and feeds moreover on aU sorts 

 of fruit and small animals, and wiU even carry off the 

 tenants of the poultry-yard ; builds singly on high 

 trees or sharp rocks ; is easily tamed, and will learn to 

 speak tolerably well. Its flight is elevated and easy. 

 It seems to be found in all parts of the world. 



In the north its plumage is often mixed with white 

 (Ascan. Ic. Nat. pi. viii.) It is then the Corvus 

 Leucophceus. Temm. Vieil. Gal. 100. 



Enl. 495 appears to be simply a crow, and 483 a 

 young rook. M. Temminck thinks that the figure 

 cited above from Levaillant is of a distinct species, 

 peculiar to Africa, and which he names C. Montanus. 



TJie Carrion Crow. ( C. Corone. L.^ Enl. 495. 

 Naum. 55. 



One-fourth smaller than the raven, the tail more 

 square, and the bill less arched above. 



M. Temminck makes a distinct species of the 

 Cape Crow, and names it C. Segetum. 



