]62 



CORVIDiE, CROWS AND JAYS. GEN. 95. 



tion by at least one-third, in botli cases. Tliey have been divided into five sub- 

 families ; three of these are small and apparently specialized groups confined to 

 the Old World, where they are represented most largely in the Australian and 

 Indian regions ; the other two, constituting the great bulk of the familj^, are more 

 nearly cosmopolitan. These are the Corvmce and Garrulince, readily distinguish- 

 able, at least so far as our forms are concerned. 



Subfamily CORVINu^. Crows. 



With the wings long and pointed, much exceeding the tail, the tip formed by the 

 3d, 4th and 6th quills ; the legs stout, fitted for walking as well as perching. As a 

 rule, the plumage is sombre or at least unvariegated • — blue, the characteristic color 

 of the jays, being here rare. The sexes are alike, and the changes of plumage 

 slight. Although technically oscine, these birds are highly unmusical ; the voice of 

 the larger kinds is raucous, that of the smaller strident. They frequent all situa- 

 tions, .and walk firmly and easily on the ground. They are among the most nearly 

 omnivorous of birds, and as a consequence, in connection with their hardy nature, 

 they are rarely if ever truly migratory. Their nesting is various, according to 

 circumstances, but the fabric is usually rude and bulky ; the eggs, of the average 

 oscine number, are commonly bluish or greenish, speckled. Although not prop- 

 erly gregarious, as a rule, they often associate in large numbers, drawn together by 

 community of interest. In illustration of this, m.ay be instanced the extensive 

 roosting-places in the Atlantic States, compar.able to the rookeries of Europe, 

 whither immense troops of crows resort nightly, often from great distances, recall- 

 ing the fine line of the poet — 



'' The blackening trains of Crowe to their repose." 



y 



05. Genus CORVTJS Linnaeus. 



***The species throughout uniform lustrous black, including the bill and feet ; 

 nasal bristles about half as long as the bill. 



* Ravens, with the throat-feathers acute, lengthened, disconnected. 



Raven. About 2 feet long ; wing 16-18 inches ; tail about 10. North 

 America; but now rare in the United States, east of the Mississippi, and 

 altogether wanting in most of the States ; Labrador, ranging southward, 

 rarely, along the coast to the Middle districts ; very abundant in the west, 

 there generally supplanting the crow. Wils., ix, 136, pi. 75, f. 3 ; Ndtt., 

 i, 202 ; AuD., iv, 78, pi. 224 ; Bd. 560. O. cacolotl Bd., 563. corax (var?). 



White-necked Haven. Smaller; concealed bases of cervical feathers 

 pure white. Southwestern U. S. Bn., 565 ; Coop., 284. cryptoleucus. 



** Crotvs, with the throat-feathers oval and 

 blended. 



Croiv. Length 18-20; wing 13-14; tail 

 about 8 ; bill lf-2, its height at base f ; 

 tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. 

 Eastern North America, chiefly U. S., not 

 ordinarily found westward in the interior, 



where the raven abounds. Wils., iv, 79, pi. 25, f. 3; Nutt., i, 209; 



Add., iv, 87, pi. 225; Bd., 566 amerioanus. 



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Pig. 103. Bill of Crow. 



