The DESERT COURSER LARK (_Alæmon desertorum_) is one of the members of
this group with which we are most familiar, as it is frequently seen in
Europe. In this bird the head and neck are of a greyish cream colour, the
back and wing-covers being somewhat yellower; the belly is white, and
the breast marked with a few blackish-brown primary streaks; the quills
are white at their roots, and black at the tip, whilst the secondaries
are entirely white, striped near the middle with black, thus producing a
double white border to the wing; the centre feathers upon the tail-covers
are of the same colour as the back, but black at the shaft, the exterior
feathers having the outer web white, and the rest black, with a yellowish
edge. The eye is light brown, the beak and feet pale grey. Both sexes are
alike in plumage, but the female is not quite so large as her mate. The
length of this species is about eight inches, the wing four and a half,
and the tail two inches.
According to our own observation, this very remarkable bird is met with
extensively between Cairo and Suez, but is by no means numerous in the
desert, and quite unknown in the region of the steppes; we occasionally
saw it in small parties, but usually living in pairs, which appeared
to associate peacefully with each other. As we have said, the Desert
Courser Lark much resembles the Cursorial birds in many particulars. It
runs with great rapidity, in the same manner as the Isabella Courser
(_Cursorius Isabellinus_), and when in flight hovers or rises into the
air with a bold stroke of the wings. When about to alight it poises
itself for some moments, and then, closing its wings, comes rapidly to
the ground, repeating this form of ascent and descent several times in
quick succession, apparently solely for the purpose of affording pleasure
to its admiring mate. The song of these birds is loud and twittering.
The nest we have never seen, and our information as to the food upon
which they subsist is very slight. Insects, we believe, constitute their
principal diet, and they probably eat some kinds of seed. They exhibit no
fear of man, and may often be seen running almost tame about the streets
and court-yards of Suez and Cairo.
[Illustration]
RAVENS (_Coracirostres_).
We are now about to introduce our readers to a race of Birds, so nearly
related to the _Passeres_, that many naturalists have regarded them as
constituting a subdivision of that order. We, on the contrary, following
our intention of rendering our classification as simple as possible, have
thought it best to assign them an entirely separate place, principally in
consideration of the unmistakable peculiarity of their plumage.
The order CORACIROSTRES, according to this view, comprises a large number
of species, varying in size from a Raven to a Finch, but all presenting
the same characteristic structure: all have elongated yet powerful
bodies, large heads, short necks, and wings of moderate size, or slightly
lengthened, pointed or rounded at the tip. The tail is formed of twelve
feathers, and is very various in its shape and size; the feet are strong,
the toes short, armed with stout claws, and the tarsi covered with scaly
plates; the beak is long, occasionally equal to or even exceeding the
head in length, but sometimes much shorter; its shape is almost straight,
more or less conical, sometimes arched at its roof, the upper mandible
being slightly bent towards the point, but not terminated by a hook. The
plumage is short in proportion to the size of the bird, and moderately
compact and thick. In some cases the ornamentation is very peculiar,
individual feathers being much elongated and stripped of their web. Very
great diversity is observable in the coloration of these birds: black
is generally predominant, but yellow and white are frequently employed,
and green, brown, or red occasionally but more rarely intermingled;
these various colours being often harmonised and enriched by a peculiar
and splendid metallic brilliancy. The internal structure of this race
bears a strong resemblance to what we have seen in the Passerine Order.
The skeleton is powerful, many of its bones being filled with air. The
back-bone very constantly consists of twelve cervical, eight dorsal, ten
or eleven pelvic, and seven to eight caudal vertebræ. The vocal muscles
of the lower larynx are well developed. The gullet does not enlarge into
a crop, and the gizzard is never so muscular as in the Passerine birds;
the various senses are very equally developed, and the brain is large.
According to some naturalists, the Ravens must be regarded as the most
perfectly constructed of the feathered tribe; and we are not inclined to
dispute this opinion: certainly, few birds can compare with them either
in capacity or bodily powers, for they run, fly, or climb with equal
facility, and possess a remarkably flexible and copious voice; indeed,
some families display such an extremely high degree of development both
as regards their intelligence and strength, as to justify us in saying
that they possess the attributes of the Parrots and Falcons combined.
In the habits of the smaller species of this order there is much that
reminds us of the Finches or Buntings; but its larger members are
distinguished by many peculiarities. They are for the most part dexterous
thieves, achieving their object with a boldness and cunning that is
truly surprising, frequently stealing, as it were, for the mere pleasure
afforded them by the act, rather than from any necessity for the object
purloined. All parts of the world are inhabited by various tribes of this
extensive division; some of them may perhaps be regarded as for the most
part frequenting woodland districts; others are equally at home upon
mountain ranges or lowlands, the sea-coast, or barren plains; and they
are constantly met with either in the solitary desert, or dwelling in the
immediate vicinity of man. Southern countries, however, afford the most
congenial home to these birds, which, though appearing in all latitudes,
are more numerous in the warmer portions of the earth than in the north.
They live everywhere unmolested by man, obtaining a plentiful supply of
food in any circumstances, seeing that their easily satisfied stomachs
are equally ready to appropriate all kinds of nourishment. In their
conduct the Ravens display an intelligence that cannot fail to interest
every observer, and most curious are the means by which they seem to
impart and receive hints or suggestions from each other. Some species
will assemble at a given hour upon a certain tree, and enter at once, as
it would seem, upon a full discussion of the events of the day, the old
birds instructing the younger members of the party, who appear to profit
by the lessons thus received; superior instinct or talent is sure to find
promotion amongst them, the most intelligent being at once recognised
as leaders of the rest of the flock. Their habits are social, but each
bird may be said to lead an independent life, though ready at a moment's
notice to join its companions in defence or attack. The structure of
their nests is very various; some are placed apart, and separate from
each other; others in close vicinity; the only interruption to the
general harmony occurring during the breeding season, when the busy
couples are all clamouring and struggling for favourite building places
or necessary materials. At such times those who cannot take what they
want by force, employ wonderful dexterity and cunning in abstracting the
coveted object, should its possessor be for one moment off his guard. The
brood consists of from four to six eggs. Both parents assist in the work
of incubation, the male stealing occasionally from the side of his mate
to pass an hour in chattering or singing with a select party of friends,
perched upon some neighbouring tree. The young remain for a considerable
time under the care and tuition of their parents, who rarely brood more
than once during the summer.
For the most part, the RAVENS must be considered as eminently useful,
destroying, as they do, large quantities of noxious insects, and thus
rendering great service to man. Some of the larger members of the order,
on the contrary, are distinguished by a cruelty and rapacity that render
them extremely destructive to the smaller quadrupeds, causing them
to be regarded as deserving of human vengeance, and fit objects for
relentless persecution. When caged, the Ravens are many of them extremely
interesting, as they will not only learn to imitate tunes, but some
of them acquire the power of repeating whole sentences with as great
facility as does the Parrot, and soon become perfectly tame. The flesh
of many species is well flavoured, and the feathers are employed for a
variety of purposes.
We shall divide the order of RAVENS into four groups, all distinctly
recognisable by some marked peculiarity of structure, but resembling each
other in their general mode of life and habits. These divisions we shall
distinguish as the STARLINGS, the BIRDS OF PARADISE, the RAVENS PROPER,
and the PLANTAIN EATERS, assigning to the Starlings the first place, as
being superior to the rest in their vocal powers.
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