THE CROW. 185

The characteristics of the Corvide are a strong, com-
pressed bill, covered at the base with stiff feathers; the form
of the foot enabling them to traverse fields with facility
in search of food, whilst they can also perch with secu-
rity on trees; the wings broad, and moderately long; the
length of the tail varying in the different species; the sight
very keen; and the colour of their plumage generally dark
but lustrous.

The common Crow (Corvus corone) is about eighteen
inches long, and twenty-six in width; it has glossy, bur-
nished feathers, nearly black in their general appearance;
it lives principally in woods, builds on trees, laying five or
six eggs; it feeds on putrid flesh, or on eggs, shell-fish,
worms, and insects, also destroying weakly lambs, young
rabbits, and chickens.

The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) has a neatly straight beak,
of a bluish-black colour, with a portion of the skin at
the base bare of feathers in the full-grown bird; the plu-
mage is black, glossed with reflections of purple, violet, and
blue. Rooks build on trees, the female laying four or five
spotted eggs; their favourite food is the grub of the chafer
or beetle, in destroying which they do good service to the

farmer.