Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/359

Rh glossy, of the lower parts rather loose. Stiff bi-istly feathers with dis- united barbs over the nostrils, directed forwards and adpressed. Wings long, first primary short, fourth longest ; primaries tapering, secondaries broad, the outer abrupt with a minute acumen, the inner rounded. Tail rather long, rounded, of twelve nearly straight, rounded feathers, their shafts distinctly undulated.

Beak, tarsi, toes and claws, black. Iris brown. The general colour of the plumage is deep black, with purplish-blue reflections, the hind parts of the neck tinged with purplish-brown ; the lower parts less glossy. Length 18 inches, extent of wings 3 feet 2 inches; bill along the ridge 9,^2 '> tarsus 2|.

The Female differs from the Male in being less glossy, but the difference is not very perceptible. The young when fully fledged are of a rather dull brownish-black, with the blue and purple reflections much less brilliant.

After a careful comparison of specimens of the European Carrion Crow with others of the American Crow, I have found decided differ- ences, which to me seem quite sufficient to set the question of their identity at rest.

The European Crow is larger than the American ; the length of the former being 20 inches, that of the latter 18 ; and the wing from the flexure to the extremity is proportional, being in the one 13 J inches, in the other 12.

The bill is stronger and deeper, more convex on the sides, and with the edges more involute in the Carrion Crow than in the American Crow, the depth at the base in the former being }§, in the latter ^|.

The scutella of the tarsus in both are 10, but the feet of the Carrion Crow are much stronger and its toes and claws larger than those of the other.

In the European Crow, the fourth primary is longest, the third almost equal, and this is also the case in the American, although slight differences occur in individuals.

The principal character besides the different form of the bill, is to be found in the feathers of the neck. In the European bird, the feathers of the hind neck are narrow, and although blended, have their points distinct; while in the American bird, they are broad, rounded, and perfectly blended, so that their individual form cannot be traced. The feathers of the fore neck in the former are lanceolate, compact at the end,