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Family COBVHXS. 



Genus PYRRHOCORAX. 



Coracia apud Brisson, Om. p. 3 (1760). 

 Corvus apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 158 (1766). 

 Gracula apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 42 (1769). 

 Pyrrhocorax, Tunstall, Orn. Brit. p. 2 (1771). 

 Graculus apud Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 91 (1816). 

 Fregilus apud Cuvier, Beg. Animal, i. p. 406 (1817). 

 Frigilus apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 268 (1837). 



This genus forms a very distinct group of the Corvidse, differing more especially in the form of 

 the bill and coloration of the bill and legs. Two species only are included in the genus, both of 

 which are found in the Western Paleearctic Region, and range throughout the Eastern Palaearctic 

 Region to China, being also found in the northern portion of the Ethiopian Region. They 

 frequent rocky portions of the higher mountain-ranges and high cliffs bordering the ocean. In 

 general habits they resemble the Jackdaw, with which species they not unfrequently consort. 

 They are gregarious, even during the breeding-season ; but though not very wild, they are wary 

 and cautious. They feed on insects of various kinds, worms &c, and grain ; and their note 

 resembles that of the Jackdaw, but is clearer and shriller. 



They construct a rather large cup-shaped nest of sticks lined with roots, wool, and hair, and 

 deposit several creamy white eggs, sometimes tinged with pale green, and marked with faint 

 purplish grey and hair-brown blotches. 



Pyrrhocorax graculus, the type of the genus, has the bill long, compressed, rather stout at 

 the base, but curved and tapering to a point; nostrils basal, covered by close stiff feathers 

 directed forwards; wings long, pointed, the first quill short, being about equal to the short 

 secondaries, the second shorter than the sixth, the fourth longest ; tail moderate, even ; tarsus 

 long, covered in front with four indistinct large and three inferior scutellee; toes stout, scutellate; 

 claws rather short, stout, curved, acute. 



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