CORVUS, the RAVEN or CROW kind, in ornithology, a genus of birds of the order of pice, the distinguishing characteristics of which are these: The beak is convex and cultrated: the nostrils are covered with bristly feathers; the tongue is forked and cartilaginous; and the feet are of the walking kind. The species are 19. The most remarkable are:
1. The corax, or raven of English authors, weighs three pounds, and is about two feet two inches in length; the colour is black, finely glossed with a rich blue; the belly excepted, which is of a dusky colour. They build in trees, and lay five or six eggs of a pale green colour marked with small brownish spots. They are very docile birds, and may be trained up to fowling like hawks; to fetch and carry like spaniels; they may be taught to speak like parrots; and, what is most extraordinary of all, they may be taught to imitate the human voice in singing. They frequent the neighbourhood of great towns, where they are useful in devouring the carcasses and filth which would otherwise prove a nuisance. In clear weather they fly in pairs to a great height, making a deep loud noise, different from the common croaking. Their scent is remarkably good; and they are very long lived. The quills of ravens sell for 12s. per hundred, being of great use in tuning the lower notes of an harpichord when the wires are set at a considerable distance from the sticks.
2. The corone, or carrion-crow, in the form of its body agrees with the raven; also in its food, which is carrion and other filth. It will also eat grain and insects; and like the raven will pick out the eyes: for which reason it was formerly distinguished from the rook, which feeds entirely on grain and insects, by the name of the gor, or gor-crow. Virgil says that its croaking foreboded rain:
Tum cornix plena pluviam vocat improba voce.
It was also thought a bird of bad omen, especially if it happened to be seen on the left hand:
Sæpe sinistra cava prædixit ab illic cornix.
England breeds more of this kind of birds than any other country in Europe. In the 24th of Henry VIII. they were grown so numerous, and thought to be so prejudicial to the farmer, that they were considered as an evil worthy of parliamentary redress; an act was passed for their destruction, in which rooks and choughs were included. Every hamlet was to provide crow-nets for ten years; and all the inhabitants were obliged at certain times to assemble, during that space to consult of the proper means for extirpating them. But though the crow abounds thus in Britain, it is so rare in Sweden, that Linnaeus speaks of it only as a bird that he once knew killed there. It lays the same number of eggs as the raven, and of the same colour: immediately after deserting their young they go in
pairs. Both these birds are often found white or pied: an accident that befalls black birds more frequently than any others. Mr Pennant says, he has observed one entirely of a pale brown colour, not only in its plumage, but even in its bill and feet. The crow weighs about 20 ounces. Its length is 18 inches; its breadth two feet two inches.
Concerning these birds, we have the following curious anecdote in Mr Edward's natural history. "The reverend Mr Robinson rector of Ousby in Westmoreland and Cumberland, says, 'that birds are natural planters of all sorts of wood and trees. They disseminate the kernels upon the earth, which like nurseries brings them forth till they grow up to their natural strength and perfection.' He says, 'About 25 years ago, coming from Rosecastle early in the morning, I observed a great number of crows very busy at their work upon a declining ground of a mossy surface: I went out of my way on purpose to view their labour, and I found they were planting a grove of oaks. The manner of their planting was thus: they first made little holes in the earth with their bills, going about and about till the hole was deep enough; and then they dropped in the acorn, and covered it with earth and moss. The season was at the latter end of autumn when all seeds are full ripe.'
"Mr Robinson seems to think that Providence had given the crows this instinct solely for the propagation of trees; but I imagine it was given them principally for their own preservation, by hiding provision in time of plenty, in order to supply them in a time of scarcity: for it is observed in tame pies and daws kept about houses, that they will hide their meat when they have plenty of it, and fetch it from their hiding-places when they want it. So that such an instinct in these birds may answer a double purpose; both their own support in times of need, and the propagation of the trees they plant: for wherever they hide a great number of nuts or grain in the earth, we cannot suppose they find them all again; but that as many will remain in the plot of ground they make use of, as can well grow by one another."
3. The frugilegus, or rook, is the corvus of Virgil; no other species of this kind being gregarious.
E pasta decedens agmine magno
Corvorum increpuit denses exercitus alis.
A very natural description of the evening return of these birds to their nests.
The rook differs not greatly in its form from the carrion-crow: the most remarkable difference is in the bill; the nostrils, chin, and sides of that and the mouth being in old birds quite white and bared of feathers by often thrusting the bill into the ground in search of the erucæ of the dor-beetle †. The rook then, instead of † The Scrobiculus Melolontha. being prohibited, should be treated as the farmer's friend; as it clears his ground from caterpillars, which do incredible damage by eating the roots of the corn. Rooks are social birds, living in vast flocks: but crows go only in pairs. They begin to build their nests in March; one bringing materials, while the other watches the nest, lest it should be plundered by its brethren: they lay the same number of eggs as the crow, and of the same colour, but less. After the breeding season, the rooks forsake their nest-trees, and for some
some time go and roost elsewhere, but return to them in August: in October they repair their nests.
4. The cornix, or royston crow, pretty much resembles the rook, feeding on insects, and flying together in great flocks. In England it is a bird of passage, visiting that kingdom in the beginning of winter, and leaving it with the woodcocks. In the maritime parts they feed on crabs and shell-fish. They are very common in Scotland: in many parts of the Highlands, and in all the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland, it is the only species of genuine crow; the carrion, and rook, being unknown there. It breeds and continues in those parts the whole year round. In the Highlands, they breed indifferently in all kinds of trees: lay six eggs: have a shriller note than the common crows; are much more mischievous; pick out the eyes of lambs, and even of horses when engaged in bogs. They are, therefore, in many places proscribed, and rewards given for killing them. For want of other food these birds will eat cranberries, or other mountain berries.
5. The monedula, or jack-daw, weighs nine ounces; the length thirteen inches, the breadth twenty-eight. The head is large in proportion to its body; which, Mr Willughby says, argues him to be ingenious and crafty. The irides are white: the breast and belly are of a dusky hue inclining to ash-colour: the rest of the plumage is black, slightly glossed with blue: the claws very strong and hooked. It is a docile and loquacious bird. Jack-daws breed in steeples, old cathedrals, and in high rocks, laying five or six eggs. Sometimes they have been known to breed in hollow-trees near a rookery, and join those birds in their foraging parties. In some parts of Hampshire, they make their nests in rabbit holes: they also build in the interstices between the upright and transverse stones of Stonhenge: a proof of the prodigious height of that stupendous antiquity, for their nests are placed beyond the reach of the shepherd boys, who are always idling about this spot. They are gregarious birds; and feed on insects, grain, and seeds.
6. The glandularius, or jay, is one of the most beautiful British birds. The weight is between six and seven ounces: the length 13 inches, the breadth 20. The forehead is white streaked with black: the head is covered with very long feathers, which it can erect at pleasure into the form of a crest: the whole neck, back, breast, and belly, are of a faint purple dashed with grey; the covert-feathers of the wings are of the same colour. The first quill-feather is black; the exterior webs of the nine next are ash-coloured; the interior webs dusky; the six next are black, but the lower sides of their exterior webs are white tinged with blue; the two next wholly black; the last of a fine bay colour tipped with black. The lesser coverts are of a light bay: the greater covert feathers most beautifully barred with a lively blue, black, and white: the rest are black: the rump is white. The tail consists of twelve black feathers. The feet are of a pale brown; the claws large and hooked. It lays five or six eggs of a dull whitish olive, mottled very obscurely with pale brown. The nest is made entirely of the fine fibres of roots of trees; but has for the foundation a few coarse sticks. It is generally placed on the top
of the underwood, such as hazels, thorns, or low birch. The young follow their parents till the spring: in the summer they are very injurious to gardens, being great devourers of pease and cherries. In the autumn and winter they feed on acorns, from whence the Latin name. Dr Kramer observes, that they will kill small birds. Jays are very docile, and may be taught to imitate the human voice: their native note is very loud and disagreeable. When they are enticing their fledged young to follow them, they emit a noise like the mewing of a cat.
7. The caryocatactes, or nutcracker, is by far the most beautiful of the European birds. It is very common in Germany, Denmark, &c. and feeds on nuts. It is somewhat less than the jack-daw: the bill is strong, straight, and black: the colour of the whole head and neck, breast and body, of a rusty brown: the crown of the head and rump are plain: the other parts marked with triangular white spots: the wings black: the coverts spotted in the same manner as the body: the tail rounded at the end, black tipped with white: the vent-feathers white: the legs dusky.
8. The pica, or magpie, is so well known that it would be superfluous to describe it minutely. It bears a great resemblance to the butcher-bird in its bill, which has a sharp process near the end of the upper mandible. It resembles the same also in the shortness of its wings, and the form of its tail; each feather shortening from the two middlemost. It agrees also in its food, which consists of worms, insects, and small birds. It will destroy young chickens; and is a crafty, restless, and noisy bird. It is easily tamed; and may be taught to imitate the human voice. It builds its nest with great art, covering it entirely with thorns, except one small hole for admittance. It lays six or seven eggs of a pale green colour spotted with green. It weighs near nine ounces: the length is 18 inches; the breadth 24.
9. The graculus, or red-legged crow, is but thinly scattered over the northern world: no mention is made of it by any of the Faunists; nor do we find it in other parts of Europe, except England and the Alps. It is produced in the island of Candia in Asia; and it visits Egypt towards the end of the inundations of the Nile. Except in Egypt, it affects mountainous and rocky places; builds its nest in high cliffs, or ruined towers; and lays four or five eggs, white, spotted with a dirty yellow. It feeds on insects, and also on new-fown corn. They commonly fly high, make a shriller noise than the jack-daw, and may be taught to speak. It is a very tender bird, and unable to bear very severe weather: is of an elegant, slender-make; active, restless and thieving; much taken with glitter, and so meddling as not to be trusted where things of consequence lie. It is very apt to catch up bits of lighted sticks; so that there are instances of houses being set on fire by its means; on which account Camden calls it incendiaria avis. It is found in Cornwall, Flintshire, Caernarvonshire and Anglesea, in the rocky cliffs along the shores. It is also found in Scotland as far as Strathnavern; and in some of the Hebrides. Its colour is wholly black, beautifully glossed over with blue, and purple: the legs and bill are of a bright orange colour inclining to red: the tongue is almost as long as the bill, and