254 cassell's book ok birds. 



THE RAVENS PROPER (Coraces). 



This family comprehends some of the largest members of the order. In these birds the beak is 

 large, strong, curved towards the point, and toothed on its cutting edge, the upper mandible being 

 only occasionally slightly hooked ; the wings are of moderate size, and rounded at their extremities, 

 the fourth quill being larger than the rest ; the tail is formed by twelve feathers, which are either 

 graduated or straight at the extremity. The plumage is rich, and its feathers large, those at the base 

 of the beak usually resembling hairs or bristles ; the rest are extremely glossy. Both sexes are 

 alike in colour, and the young differ but little from the parent birds. 



The Ravens inhabit every part of the globe, their mode of life and appearance varying slightly, 

 according to the climate in which they live. Warm countries, however, appear more congenial to 

 them than the northern parts of the earth, where they are met with in comparatively small numbers. 

 By far the greater number are stationary, rarely, if ever, leaving the place that gave them birth, except 

 to make short excursions in the neighbourhood, whilst others migrate to countries at no great distance 

 from their native land. If we except the power of song, the Ravens combine in themselves every gift 

 possessed by any members of the order to which they belong. They move with ease upon the ground, 

 fly rapidly and lightly, and are remarkable for the very equal development of all their faculties, 

 including the sense of smell. 



This family has been divided into many groups, all of which present very marked peculiarities. 



The MOUNTAIN CROWS, or CHOUGHS (Fregili) are recognised by their long, slender 

 bodies, long wings, and short tails ; their beaks are slender and pointed, slightly arched, and, like their 

 feet, brightly coloured. Their plumage is black and glossy. Europe has two species of these birds, 

 and several others inhabit India and Australia. 



THE CHOUGH. 



The Chough, or Mountain Crow (Fregilus graculus) is distinguished by the peculiar formation 

 of its long, thin, arched beak, which, like its short-toed foot, is of a brilliant scarlet colour. The eyes 

 are dark brown, and the plumage of an uniform glossy blueish black. This species is about fifteen 

 inches long and thirty-one inches across ; the wing measures ten and a half inches, and the tail five 

 and a half inches. The female is scarcely distinguishable from her mate, but the young are known by 

 their black feet and beak ; after the first moulting, however, they resemble the older birds. 



Almost ail the mountains of Europe afford a home to these Crows, which are met with in con- 

 siderable numbers in Scotland, in Cornwall, and in Wales : in Spain they are very abundant, but are 

 comparatively rare among the Swiss Alps. In most of the mountains that they frequent they occa- 

 sionally ascend to the summits of the loftiest peaks, and are usually found as high as the snow-line, 

 descending to the valleys in severe winters. Travellers in these mountain regions often hear the 

 voices of thousands of these birds from amongst the rocks, and those who take the trouble to observe 

 their movements soon perceive that they appear with a certain kind of regularity in the same localities, 

 generally leaving their sleeping-place early in the morning to search for food, and returning about nine 

 o'clock to their perch ; before noon they again leave, and again return to pass the mid-day hours in the 

 holes with which their favourite haunts abound, keeping, however, a vigilant watch against intruders, even 

 when enjoying their noontide rest, and giving warning of any approaching danger with loud and 

 piercing cries ; nor are these precautions by any means superriuous, seeing that Hawks and others of 

 their enemies are always on the alert to seize an unwary straggler, which, on such occasions, usually 



