Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Conirostres. 
Family I. Coevid^. 
The sixth Subfamily, 
PYRRHOCORACIN^, or Choughs, 
have the BiU more or less long, slender, and slightly curved, with the culmen rounded and curved to 
the tip, which is rather acute and slightly emarginated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and hidden by the 
projecting feathers ; the Wings lengthened and pointed ; the Tail long and rounded, or even ; the Tarsi 
strong and rather short ; the Toes moderate, with the lateral ones nearly equal. 
Pyrrhocorax VieilL* 
BiU moderate, and rather slender, with the culmen gradually curved to the tip, which is emarginated ; 
the sides compressed, and the gonys moderate, and advancing upwards ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and 
covered by the projecting plumes. Wings reaching nearly to the end of the tail, and pointed, with the 
fourth and fifth quills the longest. Tail long and even. Tarsi short, and scutellated with an almost 
entire scale. Toes robust, and covered with rough scales ; the lateral toes nearly equal . 
The type of this genus is found in the mountains of Europe, where it generally lives about the snowy range, but on 
the approach of winter it sometimes descends to a lower elevation. Its food consists of insects, grain, and worms. The 
nest is generally formed in an opening of the rocks or walls ; and the female deposits from three to five eggs. 
1. P. alpinus Vieill. PI. eiil. 531 Corvus pyrrhocorax Linn. 
Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 218. 
2. P. (?) crinitus (Daud.) Temm. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t, 82. 
Corvus sexsetaceus Shaw ; Pyrrhocorax hexagenus Cuv. 
CoRcoRAX Less.-f 
Bill long, rather slender, and arched, with the culmen rounded and curved to the tip ; the sides 
compressed, and the gonys long and slightly curved ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and partly hidden by 
the frontal plumes, with the opening rounded. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the fourth quill 
longest. Tail very long, broad, and rounded. Tai^si long, strong, and covered with broad scales in 
front. Toes moderate, robust, and strongly scaled, with the lateral toes nearly equal, and the hind toe 
long and strong ; the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 
* Established by Vieillot in 18l6 (Analyse, Sfc. p. 36.). 
t M. Lesson established this genus in 1831 (Traits d'Ornithol. p. 324.). 
