Fifty Comtnon Birds of China 



turttaU 

 secondapte* 



lower back 

 osapiikrs 



supcrsiUum cfwn ffoht 

 nape 



ores 



upper mandible 



upper tail coverts 4«£~=; 



_ lower mandible 

 throat 

 cheek 



breast 



i lesser 

 wlnii coverts < middle 



ligreater 

 si^'e 



Fig. I. — Parts of a Bird. 

 FAMILY CORVIDAE 

 Crows, Pies, Jays, etc. 



The Crow Family deserves to come first in our list, as it is considered 

 by most bird students to be the most intelligent group of birds. This 

 family is represented in almost every partj" of the world and is especially 

 numerous in China. Of some thirty species found in this country, we can 

 describe but the six most common. 



The Corvidae have the nostrils concealed by bristle-like feathers 

 (Fig' 2), except the adult Rook, which latter loses these feathers at 

 matruity. (■Fig'. 4). The feet are strong and well adapted to a great 

 amount of walking around on the ground in search of food. 



The Crows proper are usually black all over, "A^ some have white in 

 their plumage. They are a familiar sight in almost any part of China, 

 city, country, mountain, plain or seaside. 



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