CORVINiE. 
Pica Brins.* 
Bill long and strong, with the culmen curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is hooked 
and slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins slightly curved, and the gonys long and ascending ; the 
nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and concealed by the projecting bristles. Wings long and rounded, with 
the first quill very short, and the fourth and fifth nearly equal and longest. Tail lengthened and much 
graduated. Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad scales. 
Toes short, strong, the lateral toes nearly equal, and the outer one united at its base ; the hind toe long 
and strong ; the claws long, curved, and acute. 
The species of this genus are found both in the Old World and in the northern parts of the New. They are 
generally noticed in pairs, though sometimes they congregate in flocks, when they are very noisy and querulous, and 
continually flying from place to place. These birds feed on all kinds of vegetables, grain, worms, and insects, and even 
carrion ; they are very destructive to gardens and orchards, they also devour great numbers of eggs, and the young 
of birds, and they may occasionally be observed on the backs of the cattle, examining their hides for the larva; of 
insects that infest them. When alarmed, they commence a series of chattering notes which give warning also to other 
birds. They place their nest usually among the highest branches of the tall trees, or in the thickest or thorny bushes. 
It is large and composed exteriorly of sticks and dry weeds, which are cemented together by a thick plastering of clay ; 
the interior is lined with wool, cow-hairs, and feathers. The nest is surmounted, or roofed, with a series of thorny 
twigs, closely laced together, leaving only a narrow entrance on one side for the ingress and egress of the birds. 
1. P. caudata Ray, PI. enl. 488. — Corvus pica Linn. ; Pica me- 
lanoleuca et P. albiventer Vieill. ; P. europsea Cuv. Gould, B. of 
Eur.pl. 216. 
2. P. serieea Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1 845. p. 48. 
3. P. Bottanensis De Less. Rev. Zool. 1840. p. 100. Pica me- 
galoptera Blyth. 
4. P. hudsonica (Sabine), Pr. Bonap. — Corvus pica Wils. Amer. 
Orn. pi. 35. f. 2., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 35 7. 
5. P. Nuttalli Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 362. f. 1. 
6. P. caledonica (Gmel.) — Corvus cinereus Forst. Desc. Anim. 
p. 260., Icon. ined. 58. 
7. P. cyanea (Pall.) Wagl. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. t. 58., Gould, 
B. of Eur.pl. 217. 
8. P . albicollis Vieill Corvus caledonicus Lath. Ind. Ord. 
Suppl. xxv.. Entree. Voy. ii, t. 35. 
Corvus Linn.\ 
Bill strong, generally long, with the culmen more or less arched, or nearly straight to the tip, which 
is entire ; the sides gradually compressed from the base ; the gonys long, more or less advancing 
upward to the tip ; the nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and entirely covered by the projecting bristly 
plumes. Wings long and pointed, with the first quill shorter than the second, and the third and fourth 
quills the longest. Tail moderate, sometimes equal or rounded. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and 
broadly scutellated in front. Toes moderate, strong, the outer toe slightly united at the base, and the 
lateral ones nearly equal ; the claws strong, moderate, and curved. 
* Established by Brisson ( Ornithologie ) in 1760. 
t Linmeus established this genus in 1735 It embraces Lycos of M. Boie (1826) (with which Monedula of M. Brehm (1828) and 
CoiiBus of Dr. Kaup (1829) are synonymous), Corone of Dr. Kaup (1829), and Frugilegus and Corvultur of M. Lesson. ^ 
