PASSERES (CORVID.e). 



415 



crow, rook, raven, and hooded crow belong to the genus Oorvus, 

 which is characterised by the following : beak hard, stout, 

 straight at base, and sharp at edges ; the wings long ; nostrils 

 hidden by stiff feathers. 



The Magpie belongs to the genus Pica, in which the beak is 

 slightly notched at the tip of the 

 upper mandible, and the wings 

 are short and rounded. The jay 

 belongs to the genus Garrulus, in 

 which the beak is shorter than 

 the head. 



The Carrion Crow (C rorone) 

 is black like the rook ; the beak 

 is strong and bent at the end ; it 

 has black feathers at the base, 

 there being no white as seen in 

 the rook. C. corone breeds in 

 trees, usually at a great height. 

 The young, which are hatched out 

 very early — usually whilst other 

 birds are laying — are most vora- 

 cious. It is especially at this 

 time that the crow does so much 

 damage. They rob the nests of 

 game - birds both of their eggs 

 and young; poultry, leverets, and Via. 227.— Skull or Ra™n, reduced 



, {.E;,'ithognatous). 



lambs have even been known to 



ilfa;.p, Maxillo-palatine; Fo, vomer ; 



be attacked, whilst they are said pi, palatine ; pt, pterygoid ; 13, quad- 



' ■' rate. 



to have killed ewes detached from 



the flock. With this food they feed the young, often carrying 

 the bones and debris away some distance, so that their nests 

 should not be detected. They apparently pair for life. The 

 crow flies either singly or in pairs, never in large flocks as 

 we see the rooks in England, although it is said to do so 

 abroad. The only good one can see that they do is to 



