THE SPECIFIC CHAllACTEllS OF BIRDS. 533 
what diffuse manner, in order to be the better under- 
stood. 
In commencing the consideration of this genus, an inte- 
resting subject of discussion presents itself in the perfect si- 
milarity, with regard to colour, of two of the more gene- 
rally diffused species, the Kaven and Carrion Crow, species 
nearly allied in habit, and, according to our present modes, 
distinguishable only or chiefly by size, the first being about 
S feet long, the other 1^. The characters, as given by 
Temminck are, 
C. Coraoc^ — Of a beautiful glossy black, with purple re- 
flections, on the upper part of the body, tail much rounded 
and black ; beak strong, black, as well as the feet ; iris 
with two circles, light grey and brownish ash. Length 
2 feet. 
€. Corone, — Much smaller, of a deep black, with violet 
reflections, the tail slightly rounded ; beak and feet black ; 
iris hazel. Length IJ feet. 
And such, or of similar import, are the usual characters 
given by authors. With regard to the differences, beau- 
tiful glossy black, with purple reflections,"" and " deep black, 
with violet reflections,*" they are neither obvious nor dis- 
tinctive. The fact is, no difference of the kind exists. In 
both species, the whole plumage is glossy or shining, espe- 
cially the back, of a deep black, tinged with purple on the 
upper parts, and having a few green tints interspersed, and 
tinged with green, and having a few purple tints beneath. 
Colour, therefore, is out of the question. 
The more obvious distinctions are the following : In 
C. CoraX) the tail is longish, that is more than one-half the 
length of the body, and much rounded, the feathers slight- 
ly bent upwards : in C. Corone, the tail is moderate, that 
is, about half the length of the body, very slightly round- 
