CORVINiE. 293 



eaters ; fishing with Gulls and Terns at the wake of a ship ; 

 plucking fruit with green Pigeons and Cuckoos ; or eatino- grain 

 with Sparrows and Weaver birds. They are familiar and 

 bold, if undisturbed, but excessively wary if danger approach 

 them ; they are domesticated readily, have great powers of imita- 

 tion, and, in their habit of pilfering and hoarding up articles of 

 different kinds, they exhibit great cunning and intelligence 

 Lastly, the most typical species occur in almost all climates habit- 

 able by man, and are, therefore, found all over the world, except in 

 that exceptional country, Australia. 



Gen. Coevus, Linnseus (in part). 



Char.— Bill long, very strong and thick, straight ; the culmen 

 more or less elevated ; nares protected by very long and rio-id 

 bristles ; wings long and pointed, 1st quill short ; 2nd a little shorter 

 than the 3rd and 4th, and the 5th usually sub-equal to them ; tail 

 moderate, even, or somewhat rounded ; tarsus very stout, of 

 moderate length, with strong scutae ; feet moderate ; lateral toes 

 about equal ; claws sharp and strongly curved. 



The Crows have of late been sub-divided into several sub-genera, 

 but, with Horsfield, I shall only separate the Jackdaws generically. 

 The crows may be sub-divided into Ravens, Carrion Crows, Rooks 

 and Crows. 



1st. — Ravens, restricted Corvas, apud Gray; Corax, apud Bona- 

 parte. 



They are of large size, have very stout beaks, are solitary 

 in their habits, and very predacious and carnivorous. 



657. Corvus corax, LiNNiEus. 



Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 223 — Blyth, Cat. 447 — Hoesf., 

 Cat. 829. — Bom-kak, and Doola, H. in the N. W. 



The European Raven. 



Descr. — Wholly glossy black ; the feathers of the chin and 

 throat lanceolate ; tail rounded ; the ridge of the upper mandible 

 much arched towards the tip ; the wings reach to about 3 inches 

 from the end of the tail. 



