564 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
A second specimen of this species is a good deal smaller and has the third quill longest. 
This I am, however, inclined to consider a monstrosity, as I can find hut eight primaries, the 
fourth, at least, probably wanting. In this skin the outer tail feather is 2.30 inches shorter than 
the middle. 
Number 10295, from the Colorado desert, I am inclined to consider the same, although the 
very great amount of graduation in the tail is owing partly to the fact that the feathers have 
not fully grown out. The tail feathers are very broad ; the inner ones fully two inches wide. 
In comparing a skin of this species (No. 6855) with a typical one of C. carnivorus from Fort Ran¬ 
dall, 5186, almost no difference is appreciable in the bill; the wing is a little longer, with much 
the same proportion of quills, the first intermediate between the seventh and eighth, instead of 
equal to the seventh, (a proportion rather peculiar to 5186.) The tail is much more graduated, 
the difference amounting to near half an inch. The colors of the two, as far as I can judge, are 
precisely the same. It is, perhaps, a question, whether it be really different from the eastern 
bird, but as the wings are longer, the tarsi shorter, and the tail rather more graduated, I shall, 
for the present, separate them. 
In looking out for a name to give this more southern species, if really distinct, I find that of 
Corvus cacalotl , Wagler, 1 to answer best. This is described as being 25^ inches long ; the 
wing, 17 ; the tail, nearly 10 ; the tarsus, 2| ; bill along the rictus, 3J ; circumference of bill 
in the middle, 2^ ; height, 11 lines. “It is similar, in general, to the European ravens, but 
with longer, more slender tarsi, more compressed and slender bill, and longer, more cuneate 
tail, &c.” Allowing for the greater size of the German foot, the description would come 
sufficiently near to that of the skin from Bill Williams’ fork, and I shall therefore adopt this 
name. 
The Corviis sinuatus of Wagler is said to have the tomia sinuated and bent outwards, the nostrils 
concealed posteriorly only; the region beneath the eye somewhat naked, &c. The length, 25 
inches; wing, 16 X 2 T ; tarsi, 2^; middle tail feather, 9^; outer, almost 7; bill from forehead, 3|. 
Hah., Mexico. 
I owe to Mr. Lawrence the opportunity of examining a raven from Texas, which is even 
larger than that from the Colorado. It is unfortunately moulting some of its quills and tail 
feathers and its full characters cannot be ascertained. The bristly feathers of the nostrils are 
growing out, their basal portion still enveloped in its sheath, leaving the nostrils exposed. 
This may have been the case in the specimen of Corvus sinuatus described by Wagler. 
The general appearance is that of the Colorado raven, although it is rather larger, and 
the middle toe is shorter in proportion. The lustre is much the same. The size is every way 
greater than that of the North American raven. 
In the uncertainty as to what limits of variation may be allowed to the North American 
Corvidae , and in the imperfect condition of Mr. Lawrence’s specimen, I shall not venture to 
make it distinct from cacalotl , which itself is perhaps very uncertain. Should it be different, it 
may properly be called C. nobilis, Gould, unless the C. sinuatus of Wagler should prove to be 
1 Other references to Mexican species of ravens are as follows : 
Corvus sinuatus, Wagler, Isis, 1829, VII, 748. Mexico. 
Corvus cacalotl, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 527. Mexico. 
Corvus nobilis, Gould, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1837, 79.— Bon. Conspectus, 1850 , 386. 
Corvus splendens, “ Gould.”—Bon. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1837, 115. (Not of Vieillot.) An erroneous quotation of Gould, 
by Bonaparte. 
