VULTURINE RAVEN. 343 



true, that " their scent is remarkably good." It 

 must be confessed therefore that the above obser- 

 vation of Monsr. Montbeillard affords an admir- 

 able instance of critical acumen! ! I 



The only variety of the Raven worth particular 

 mention seems to be the African or Cape Raven, 

 described by Levaillant, which however differs in 

 no other circumstance than that of being rather 

 larger, of a somewhat browner colour, and in 

 having the bill rather more curved. The other 

 varieties of this bird are mere accidental differ- 

 ences of colour, which, though singular, and not 

 easily accounted for, are yet more or less observ- 

 able in many other birds j such as partial or total 

 whiteness, pale-brown or buff-colour, &c. &c. and 

 sometimes a mixture of black and white on differ- 

 ent parts of the plumage. 



VULTURINE RAVEN. 



Corvus vulturinus. C. nigej- rosfro subcompresso-ekvatOf torque 



collari albo^ pennis gularihus laxis. 

 Black Raven, with subelevato-compressed biilj white collar 



round the neck, and loose throat- feathers. 

 Corvus albicoUis. C. nigricans, rostro carinato mlido, tectri- 



cibus alarum fuscescentibus, lunula cervicis lata alba. Lath, 



ind. orn. South Sea Raven. Lath, syn, 

 Corbeau vautourin. Levaill, ois. 



Somewhat smaller than a Raven: length nine- 

 teen inches: colour dusky black, with the neck 

 marked by a white patch, lessening as it advances 

 on each side, and forming a narrow and somewhat 



