i6 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
THE NUTCRACKERS. GENUS NUCIFRAGA. 
Nucifraga, Briss., Orn., ii., p. 58 (1760). 
Type, N. caryocatades (Linn.). 
The Nutcrackers differ in structure from the Rooks, the 
Ravens, and the Crows in the proportions of the wing-feathers, 
the first primary quill being very short, and not equal to the 
secondaries in length. The bill is very thin, conical, and long, 
resembling that of the Rook in shape, but of course having the 
nostrils always covered with bristles. The wing is somewhat 
rounded, the innermost secondary quills being gradually shorter 
than the outer ones. 
Four species of Nutcrackers are now recognised, one, N- 
colnmbiana , being confined to the New World, and three to 
the Old. Of these, N. caryocatades occasionally visits Great 
Britain, the other two, N. hemispila and N. multipundata, 
being inhabitants of the Himalayan sub-region. 
THE NUTCRACKER. NUCIFRAGA CARYOCATACTES. 
Corvus caryocatades, Linn., S. N., i., p. 157 (1766); Lilford, 
Col. Fig. Brit. B., pt. iv. (1887). 
Nucifraga caryocatades, Macg.,Br. B., i.,p. 583(1837); Dresser, 
B. Eur., iv., p. 451, pi. 252 (1874) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 
Mus., iii., p. 53 (1877) 5 Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 330 (1878) ; 
B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 67 (1883); Seeb., Hist. Br. B., i., 
P- 583 (1883); Saunders, Man., p. 223 (1889). 
Adult Male.— Back brown, with a triangular white spot on 
each feather ; head dark brown ; outer tail-feather white at tip, 
the basal half black ; central primaries with a large patch of 
white near the base of the inner web ; rump and upper tail- 
coverts brown, uniform ; bill and feet black ; iris dark brown. 
Total length, 13 inches; oilmen, 1-95; wing, 73 ; tail, 5^2; 
tarsus, 1 'i. 
Sexes alike in colour. 
Young — Duller in colour than the adult and browner, the 
feathers generally more fluffy; wing-coverts tipped with dull 
white ; under tail-coverts dingy white. 
Two forms of Nutcracker in Europe are recognised by 
