3°6 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
are restricted to the New World; while in spite of the fact that many species, as 
well as families, range across the whole of the north temperate parts of the Old 
World, from the British Isles to Japan, comparatively few families can be termed 
strictly cosmopolitan. Among those families, which are variously represented in 
almost every region of the globe, may be ranked the finch tribe, the swallows, 
and the true crows. For lustre of plumage and striking combinations of colour, 
the perching birds of the Indo-Malayan region excel all others; but South America 
possesses a larger and more varied assortment of these birds. Among the number, 
tanagers and chatterers form specially interesting groups. While the mocking-birds, 
represented by closely allied species in both the northern and southern divisions of 
the New World, have the best claim to be considered the finest songsters in the 
entire order, in Europe it is probable that the blue thrush possesses the most 
beautiful notes of all the passerines. 
In such a large and difficult group as the perching birds it is but natural to 
expect diverse views among ornithologists in regard to classification. To a 
great extent the scheme of Dr. Sharpe is here followed, which differs very 
considerably from that recently proposed by Mr. Oates in the Birds of British 
India. Without attempting to weigh the value of the two, the former has been 
adopted, as being that more generally known. It will be obvious that in such 
a vast assemblage all that can be attempted in the limits of our space is to notice 
some of the more generally interesting types. 
The Crow Tribe. 
Family CORVIDsE. 
Frequently conspicuous by a black or pied plumage, often variegated with grey, 
and occasionally with brown, although some species, like the blue jays of South 
America, are much more gaudily coloured, the members of the crow family form a 
group which, while having few characters in common, are yet easy of recog¬ 
nition. Possessing a stout and generally large beak, without a distinct notch in 
the upper mandible, and generally straight, the crows have the chin-angle, or union 
of the two branches of the lower jaw, almost always produced in front of the line 
of the nostrils; while the tongue is non-extensile. The toes are of the normal 
passerine type, but although the first toe is strong, it is inferior in length to the 
third. The nostrils are clear of the line of the forehead, and are protected by a 
number of stiff:' bristles reaching to the middle of the beak, which are, however, 
shed in the adult of the European rook. The wing always has ten primary quills, 
and the tail twelve feathers. Mr. Oates, who includes the tits in the present 
family, points out that the crows may be distinguished by having the first primary 
quill longer than half the length of the second; while the plumage is more or less 
firm and glossy, and the length of the bill considerably greater than its depth. 
Both groups agree in that the plumage of the two sexes is alike, and undergoes but 
one moult (in the autumn); while the plumage of the young is paler. 
Some representatives of this specialised family are found in all the great 
continents; and even islands have in some cases their peculiar species. The piping 
