The American crow (Corvus americanus) is a bird similar to the British Carrion Crow, but is smaller and less robust, and is somewhat gregarious. This crow is common in all parts of the United States, and is deemed a great nuisance by farmers from preying on their corn. Research American Crow
The Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) is a British bird of the family Corvidae, order Passeriformes, closely related to Corvus cornix, the hooded crow. The carrion-crow, or simply the crow, is about 45 cm inches in length, and about 92 cm between the tips of the wings. Its plumage is compact and glossy blue-black with some greenish reflections. Its favourite food is carrion of all kinds; but it also preys upon small quadrupeds, young birds, frogs, lizards, etc, and is a confirmed robber of the nests of game birds and poultry. It is not gregarious, being generally met with either solitary or in pairs. It builds a large isolated nest, with from four to six eggs, generally of a bluish-green with blotches of brown. The carrion-crow is easily tamed, and may be taught to articulate words.
The crow (Corvus) is a family of some 35 species of birds, the type of the family Corvidae. It includes, as British species, the carrion-crow, the hooded or Royston crow, the raven, the rook, and the jackdaw.
The crow family are among the cleverest birds, many species developing techniques and learning to use tools in the pursuit of food. The New Caledonian Crow of New Caledonia uses a thin stick to catch wood-boring beetle larvae. It uses the stick to gently irritate the larvae inside a log, until the larvae bites the stick with its strong jaws. The stick is then withdrawn, with the still attached larvae, and the larvae eaten. Some New Caledonian crows carry the same stick around with them, others collect a new stick near a log at which they are hunting. Young New Caledonian Crows learn the art from older birds, taking about a year to become proficient. Research Crow
The fish-crow (Corvus. Ossifragus) is an American crow, resembling the American Crow but smaller, and is abundant in the coast districts of the Southern States. Its favourite food is fish, but it also eats all kinds of garbage, mollusca, etc. In winter its food is chiefly fruit, and it is then fat and considered good eating. Research Fish-Crow
The hooded crow, Royston crow, or grey-backed crow (Corvus cornix) is a British bird somewhat larger than the rook. Its head, wings, and tail are black, but less bright than in the rook; the rest of the body is a dull smoke-gray. Its food is similar to that of the carrion crow, and it builds a similar nest. Indeed, the distinctness of the species Corvus corone and Corvus cornix has been called in question, as they interbreed freely together, and the young of the same nestpresent more or less resemblance to the one or the other parent. The hooded crow is less common in England than in Scotland and Ireland. Research Hooded Crow
Jackdaw is a common name for two birds of the family Corvidae. The European jackdaw (Corvus monedula) , is about 33 centimetres long. It is dark grey, blackest and glossiest on the head, back, wings, and tail, with a paler grey neck.
The Daurian jackdaw (Corvus dauuricus), of eastern Asia, is similar to the European jackdaw, but paler in colour, with a more common colour phase in which the foreback, neck, and belly are white. Originally nesting in hollow trees, jackdaws have adapted to urban life and nest on churches, castles, and other ornate buildings. Like other crows, they are omnivorous and noisy. Research Jackdaw
The raven is a large bird of the crow family, genusCorvus. It feeds on carrion. It is completely black in colour, and can learn to imitate human speech. Research Raven
Valerius Corvus was a famous general of the early Roman republic. He was born about 370 BC and died about 270 BC. He was elected consul in 348; defeated the Volsci, the Samnites, the Etruscans, and the Marsi; was dictator in 342 and in 301; consul for the sixth time in 299. Research Valerius Corvus
Constellations are the groups into which astronomers have divided the fixed stars, and which have received names for the convenience of description and reference. It is plain that the union of several stars into a constellation, to which the name of some animal, person, or inanimate object is given, must be entirely arbitrary, since the several points (the stars) may be united in a hundred different ways, just as imagination directs.
The grouping adopted by the Egyptians was accordingly modified by the Greeks, though they retained the Ram, the Bull, the Dog, etc; and the Greek constellations were again modified by the Romans, and again by the Arabians. At various times, also, Christianity has endeavoured to supplant the pagan system, the VenerableBede having given the names of the twelve apostles to the signs of the zodiac, and Judas Schillerius having, in 1627, applied Scripture names to all the constellations. Weigelius, a professor of Jena, even grouped the stars upon a heraldic basis, introducing the arms of all the princes of Europe among the constellations. The old constellations have, however, been for the most part retained.
Ptolemy enumerated forty-eight constellations, which are still called the Ptolemaean. They are the following: 1. The twelve signs of the zodiac. 2. Twenty-one constellations found in the northern hemisphere - the Great Bear (Ursa Major), the Little Bear (Ursa Minor), Perseus, the Dragon, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pegasus, Equulus (Horse's Head), the Triangle, the Waggoner (Auriga), Bootes, the Northern Crown (Corona Boredlis), Ophiuchus, the Serpent (Serpentarius), Hercules, the Arrow (Sagitta), the Lyre, the Swan (Cygnus), the Dolphin, the Eagle (Aquila). 3. Fifteen constellations in the southern hemisphere - Orion, the Whale (Cetus), Eridanus, the Hare (Lepus), the Great Dog (Canis Major), the Little Dog (Canis Minor), Hydra, the Cup (Crater), the Crow (Corvus), the Centaur, the Wolf (Lupus), the Altar (Ara), the Southern Fish (Piscis Australia), the Argo, the Southern Crown (Corona Australia). Others were subsequently added, this being especially rendered necessary by the increased navigation of the southern hemisphere, and now the different groups of stars have come to be associated with all sorts of animals and objects, including the Giraffe, the Fly, the Air-pump, the Compasses, etc.
The different stars of a constellation are marked by Greek letters, alpha denoting those of the first magnitude, beta,those of the second and so on. Stars of the sixth magnitude are the smallest visible to the naked eye. Several stars also have particular names. Research Constellation
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research American Crow
