CROWS. 
135 
first, second, and third quills graduated. Tail even, 
or slightly rounded. 
As their food is principally found upon the ground, 
they are provided with strong walking feet ; and as 
they are gregarious and breed together in large so- 
cieties on the tops of the loftiest trees for greater 
safety, the structure of their feet is such as to give 
them stability on such an elevated and slender perch. 
The foot of the true ground bird has the hallux, or 
hind toe, elevated on the tarsus above the articulation 
of those in front, and the lateral toes are of equal size, 
and the claws are less curved than in the perching 
birds. The birds of this genus which do not resort 
to the ground, as the Jays, exhibit a more arboreal 
character of foot, having the lateral toes unequal in 
length, and the claws have a greater degree of curva- 
ture. 
The plumage of the Carrion or common Black Crow 
is entirely black, with few or no metallic reflections. 
It is a foul and miscellaneous feeder, as its name im- 
ports, and is very generally distributed. 
Carrion Crows nestle in trees, generally in moi’e re- 
tired places and farther apart from each other than 
Books. They generally pass the summer in extensive 
forests, from which the}" occasionally emerge to 
procure subsistence for themselves and their infant 
brood. They feed on flesh, eggs, worms, insects, and 
\'arious kinds of grain, but they are particularly fond 
of carrion. In spring they greedily devour the eggs 
of partridges and quails, and are so dexterous as to 
pierce them and carry them on the point of their bill 
to their young ; even fish and fruit are not unsuitable 
