78 



Genus I.— CORVUS, Linn. CROW. 



Bill rather long, stout, considerably compressed; upper mandible with the 

 dorsal line declinate and arched, the sides somewhat convex, the edges nearly 

 straight, and overlapping, the notches faint, the tip declinate, rather sharp; 

 lower mandible with the angle rather long, and of moderate width, the 

 dorsal line ascending, and slightly convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. 

 Nostrils basal, lateral, round, covered by narrow stiff feathers directed 

 forwards. Head large, ovate; neck rather short; body robust. Legs of 

 moderate length, strong; tarsus stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes 

 of moderate length, stout, first and second nearly equal, fourth longer, and 

 slightly adherent at the base. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute. 

 Plumage compact, glossed. Wings long, with the first quill short, the fourth 

 longest. Tail of moderate length, rounded. Roof of upper mandible con- 

 cave, with five ridges; tongue emargined and papillate at the base, horny 

 toward the end, thin-edged, with the point slit. 



THE RAVEN. 



■+ Corvus Corax, Linn. 



PLATE CCXXIV.— Male. 



Leaving to compilers the task of repeating the mass of fabulous and 

 unedifying matter that has been accumulated in the course of ages, respecting 

 this and other remarkable species of birds, and arranging the materials which 

 I obtained during years of laborious but gratifying observation, I will now 

 attempt to delineate the manners of this species which I have noted in the 

 course of a life chiefly spent in studying the birds of my native land, where 

 I have had abundant opportunities of contemplating their manners, and of 



