CROSSBILLS.— CROWS.— RAVEK. 63 



68. The Crossbills, — Loxia, — resemble the Bullfinches, but 

 the mandibles of the beak are so much curved at the point that 

 they cross each other. By this singular beak they are enabled 

 to tear out the seeds from under the pine-cones. The Common 

 Crossbill, — Cvrci rostra Americana,— is found inhabiting the ex- 

 tensive pine forests in the interior of Pennsylvania, and the 

 Northern States, from April to September. 



69. The Beef-eaters, — Buphaga, — make use of their beak, 

 which is inflated at the end, to compress the skin of cattle to 

 squeeze out the larvae of the oestrus vi^hich they eat. Only one 

 species is known, which inhabits Africa. 



70. The Starlings^ — Sfer7ms, — have a straight beak, depressed 

 at the point. They also follow cattle and feed on insects. They 

 are found in all parts of the world. 



71. The Crows, — Corvvs, — have a large beak, straight at the 

 base, curved towards the point, and cutting on the edges ; their 

 nostrils are concealed by hairs directed forwards, their toes are 

 entirely divided, and their wings are truncate at the extremity. 

 They live in troops, and are cunning and distrustful ; they readily 

 become familiar, and learn to speak with considerable facility. 

 The senses of this bird, that of smell particularly, are very acute. 

 They have the habit of stealing and concealing everything they 

 find, even articles which are useless to them, such as small pieces 

 of money ; they provide provision for the future season, and 

 feed on every kind of aliment, grains, fruits, insects and worms, 

 living or dead flesh, so that no animal better merits the epithet of 

 omnivorous. The principal species of this genus are : 



72. The Raven, — Corvus corax, — is the largest passerine bird 

 found in Europe. Its size is almost equal to that of the domestic 

 cock ; its plumage is entirely black, its tail rounded, the back or 

 top of the upper mandible arcuate in front. The female is of a 

 less decided black, and her size is somewhat less. This bird 

 flies well and high ; it perceives dead bodies at a great distance, 

 and feeds besides on all kinds of fruits and small animals. It 

 lives very retired, b>ut in pairs, which make their nest in crevices 

 of rocks, or in holes in walls, in old abandoned towers, and some- 

 times upon the summit of lone trees. The nest is very large, 



68. What are the characters of the Crossbills ? 



69. From what circumstance do the Beef-eaters derive their name ? 



70. What are Starlings ? 



71. What are the characters of Crows ? What are their habits? Upon 

 what do they feed ? 



72. What are the characters of the Raven ? What are its habits ? What 

 situations does it select for its nest? Where is it found? How does the 

 female differ from the male ? 



