‘ AVES. 351 
America, but the majority of the species are natives of South America and 
Mexico. 
Sub-fam. 3. Calleatine, or Tree Crows. Bill short, much curved, com- 
pressed ; wings short, rounded ; tail lengthened ; tarsi and toes rather long, 
scaled. 
A small group of fifteen or twenty birds found in Asia and Africa. 
They are represented as partaking in some measure of both crow and 
jay-like characters, frequenting open places or skirts of the forest or on the 
ground, and feeding on fruits or small animals. They are birds of very 
plain plumage, and unattractive general characters and appearance. Tem- 
nurus leucopterus and rufus are frequently seen in collections from India. 
Sub-fam. 4. Corvine, or Crows. Bill long, large, broad at base, curved, 
with projecting plumes at base; wings long, rounded; tail rather long; 
tarsi and feet strong. Size various, frequently large, color generally black. 
Contains the ravens, crows, magpies, and nutcrackers. Of the ravens 
about ten species are known, which inhabit all parts of the world except 
South America. The raven of Europe, Corvus corax (pl. 98, -fig. 12), 
has been observed since the earliest period of history. He is found in all 
parts of the old world, and inhabits all climates, braving the cold of polar 
regions or the heat of the tropics. In the eating line nothing comes amiss 
to him, for he can accommodate himself to fruits or insects if he cannot 
obtain his favorite grain or recently dead animal matter. 
The raven is said to be the most long-lived of birds, having been known 
to live nearly a hundred years. His voice is peculiarly harsh and start- 
ling, and with his black plumage has induced various superstitious notions 
respecting him. His sudden appearance near a human dwelling has been 
regarded as especially portentous, as expressed in Othello: 
«Tt comes o’er my memory 
As doth the raven o’er the infected house, 
Boding to all.” 
The American raven is very similar in all respects to that of Europe. 
He is met with in all mountainous districts of North America, and in the 
winter frequently resorts to the shores of both the Atlantic and Pacific 
oceans. He is much more abundant, however, on the Pacific side of 
North America. There appear to be no superstitious ideas amongst the 
Indians attached to this bird. 
Several other Ravens are known, one of which, a large species of 
Southern Africa (C. albicollis), though the greater portion of his plumage 
is perfectly black, has the back pure white. 
The common crow of Europe (C. corone) is a species which inhabits the 
entire continent, and is next in size to the raven amongst the European 
birds of this genus. The hooded crow, C. cornix (pl. 98, fig. 13), is 
another common European species. His plumage is unlike the greater 
number of crows, being ashy grey, having the head and tail only black. 
The jackdaw, C. monedula (pl. 98, fig. 11), is, however, the best known of 
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