LONGER O DEW CW I ON: Ixxxix

188. Srurnetyta Lupovicrana.
American Meadow-Starling.

Three instances of the occurrence of this bird in England have been recorded—Mr. Sclater mentioning, in
‘The Ibis’ for 1861, one that had been shot at Thrandeston, in Suffolk, and another seen at South Walsham, in
Norfolk, and Mr. Lloyd the third, in the ‘ Field’ for March 1871, as having been obtained near Cheltenham

many years ago; this latter specimen was seen and verified by Mr. Harting.

This species, like the preceding, being purely American, I have not included a figure of it in my work.
For all particulars respecting it, see the works of Wilson and Audubon, and Mr. Sclater’s paper in ‘ The Ibis’

above referred to.

Family CORVIDZ.

The members of this family, comprising some of the very largest of the Insessorial birds, are distinguished
by several characteristics, and are divided into many genera. The Crows, the Daws, the Rooks, and the
Choughs may be regarded as the more typical forms, and the Jays, Pies, and Nutcrackers as the more

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aberrant; still they, with many other genera, are placed in this large and all but universally spread family.

Genus Corvus.

One or other of the true Crows are dispersed over all parts of the globe, with the exception of the
southern portion of America, New Zealand, and Polynesia, where none are to be found. Structurally they
are considered by many writers to be among the most perfectly formed birds which exist, their organization
enabling them to fly through the air, perch on the branches of trees, and walk over the surface of the ground
with equal facility, and the muscles of their throats permitting them to utter connected sentences scarcely

equalled by the members of any other group of birds.

189. Corvus corax . : ; : : ; ; . ‘ ; ‘ : Vol Ti PL LVI:
Raven.
A resident species, generally dispersed over the three kingdoms—plentiful in the north, more scarce in
the south, where its great size and questionable habits procure it many enemies. Besides Britain, the

northern portion of Europe, Asia, and America are countries which may include it in their avifaunas.

190. Corvus cORONE ; : ; : : ‘ : ; . . Vol. IL. Pl. LVN:
Carrion-Crow.
A resident species, generally diffused over the three kingdoms ; is also found in most parts of Europe.

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