PASSERINiE. 
203 
The Oxyrynchus, Tern., 
Has a conical and very sharp bill, [not thick, and] shorter than the head. 
The only known species (Ox. Tern.), has a partly red crest, like many Tyrants. [The affinities of 
this bii’d are most puzzling. It obviously belongs to the distinct division Passerin<e, and therefore has no parti- 
cular relationship with the Woodpeckers, contiguous to which it is arranged by some. Colour, green above, 
whitish and spotted like a Thrush on the breast. Inhabits Brazil.] 
The Fitpits, Buff. (Dacnis, Cuv.) — 
Represent the Baltimores on a diminutive scale, having the beak conical and sharp-pointed. 
[They consist of some of the Sylvicoles, p. 191.] 
The Starlings {Sturnus, Lin.) — 
Differ from the Troopials only by a compressed beak, particularly tovrards the point, [which is obtuse 
and nail-like. 
[There are two in Europe, one generally diffused, and extending eastward to China, — 
The Common Starling (St. vulgaris, Lin.). — At first dull brown, then finely glossed black, with a pale tip to each 
feather, imparting a pretty speckled appearance ; the clothing feathers are successively more elongated and 
pointed for sevei’al moults, and most of their pale terminal specks finally disappear altogether, the bill also 
becoming rich yellow. It is easily tamed and taught to speak*, and very social in its habits, flying in large 
flocks : flesh bad-tasted. The other species (St. unicolor) has still longer pointed clothing feathers, and never 
any whitish spots : inhabits the south of Europe, and particularly Sardinia.] 
We can perceive no characters of sufficient importance to sanction the separation, from the 
Conirostres, of the genera belonging to the family of Crows, which have precisely the same 
internal structure, as w'ell as the same external organs, being distinguished only by a much 
greater size, which allows some of them to pursue other birds; their strong beak is often 
laterally compressed. 
The genera are three in number, viz., the Crows, Birds of Paradise, and the Rollers [which 
last alone do not possess the distinctive characters of the Passerince]. 
The Crows {Corvus, Lin.) — 
Have a strong beak, more or less compressed, and the nostrils covered with stiff incumbent bristles 
directed forwards. They are sagacious birds, and their sense of smelling is very acute ; they have 
generally the habit of purloining articles that are quite useless to them, as pieces of money, &c. 
We apply the name of Crow, or Raven, more particularly to certain large species, which have the 
stoutest beaks of any, and the ridge of the upper mandible most arcuated. Then tail is round or 
square. 
The Raven (C. corax, Lin.), is the largest Passerine bird found in Europe, equalling a fowl in size. Its plumage 
is wholly black, the tail rounded ; ridge of the upper mandible arched anteriorly. Its habits are more retiring 
than those of its congeners, [except w'here it is quite unmolested] ; flight, vigorous and lofty ; scents carrion at the 
distance of a league ; and also feeds on fruit and upon small animals, even carrying off poultry ; it nestles on lofty 
trees or in steep precipices, is easily tamed, and readily learns to speak. This bird appears to be found in all 1 
parts of the world, [a fallacious opinion, very generally received : few travellers that have seen a large black spe- 
cies of Corvus have troubled themselves to ascertain that it was the Raven ; and collectors have generally neglected 
to procure a bird, which they supposed was not uncommon at home ; the truth being, that there are as many as 
six or seven species confounded under the name, several of which are readily distinguishable upon actual com- 
parison. The similitude of the common Crow and Rook of Europe should have rendered naturalists cautious in 
identifying the species of this genus]. 
The Corby Crow (C. corone, Lin.). — fourth less than the Raven, with a square tail, and beak less arcuated. 
The Rook (C. frugilegus, Lin.). — Smaller still, with a [comparatively] straight beak, more pointed than that of 
the last. Excepting when young, the head is bare of feathers as far back as the eyes, which the bird probably 
wears off in digging up the grubs on which it feeds. 
These two species live in great flocks, nestling even in society ; [certainly, however, not the first of them]. They 
devour grain as well as insects. Are found throughout Europe ; remaining in the winter, however, only in the 
milder districts. [The Corby Crow is much more carnivorous than the Rook, and very destructive to eggs and 
young game : we have known it attempt to fly off with a young Turkey nearly as big as itself : it is very seldom 
that the Rook attacks other birds, but we have known a party of this species to destroy a brood of Missel Thrushes 
that had recently left the nest.] 
We have known a Starling: to learn the song of the Nightingale, and warble it to perfection. 
