Quills are the large wing-feathers of birds. They were long used for making pens, the quills of swans being the best but the quills of geese most commonly used while Crow-quills were used to make fine writing instruments. Quills are still used to make sign writers' brushes, as the flexible quill has less tendency to cut the delicate sable hairs than a metal ferrule. Quills used for signwriting have a wooden handle inserted into the handle end of the quill to add rigidity to the brush. Research Quill
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 blackbird or merle (Turdus merula) is a British bird of the thrush family common in Britain and throughout Europe. It is larger than the common thrush, its length being about 25 cm. The male has black plumage and a yellow bill. The female is dark brown with a dark bill. The nest is usually in a thick bush, and is built of grass, roots, twigs, etc, strengthened with clay. The eggs, generally four or five in number, are of a greenish-blue, spotted with various shades of brown. The song is rich, mellow, and Mute-like, but of no great variety or compass.
Its food is insects, worms, snails, fruits, etc, and blackbirds may often be seen huntingworms across garden lawns which they do by attracting the worms to the surface by stamping their feet in imitation of rain fall, listening with their head cocked to one side, and then yanking the worm from the ground with their beak when it emerges.
The blackbird was formerly known as the 'Ouzel' or 'Ousel', 'missel thrush', 'mistletoe thrush', 'Holm Thrush', 'Holm Screech' and 'storm cock' in various parts of England, Scotland and Wales.
The blackbirds or crow-blackbirds of America are quite different from the European blackbird, and are more nearly allied to the starlings and crows.
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus}, belonging to the starling family, is a familiar American bird that congregates in great flocks. Research Blackbird
The Blackfish (Tautoga americana), is a fish caught on the American coast, especially in the vicinity of Long Island, whence large supplies are obtained for the New York market. Its back and sides are of a bluish or crow black; the under parts, especially in the males, are white. It is plump in appearance, and much esteemed for the table, varying in size from 2 to 12 lbs. Another fish, the Centrolophus morio found in the Mediterranean and on the coasts of Western Europe, is also called blackfish. It belongs to the mackerel family. In Scotland the term is applied to foul or newly-spawned fish. In America two species of small whale of the genus Globiocephalus also get this name. Research Blackfish
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 chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is a bird of the crow family with red feet and bill. It is found on sea cliffs. In English folk lore the spirit of King Arthur migrated into a Chough, and as a result Choughs were protected in Cornwall. Research Chough
The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) so named from the Latin meaning sea-crow, is a genus of birds of the Pelican (Pelicaniformes) family or sometimes forming a family by themselves. They have a longish and strongly-hooked bill, long neck, short wings, and rather long rounded tail; all the toes are united by a web, and, though excellent swimmers, they are able to perch on trees. Their colour is generally black or dark. The common cormorant of Europe (Phalacrocorax carto) is larger than a goose, but with smaller wings. It occupies cliffs by the sea, feeds on fish, and is extremely voracious. It dives and swims with great power, and pursues its prey beneath the surface of the water, often to a great depth. Amongst the Chinese cormorants have long been trained to fish for man. At first a ring is placed on the lower part of the bird's neck to prevent it swallowing the prey, and in time it learns to deliver the fish to its master without such a precaution being necessary. Another British cormorant is the green cormorant or shag (Phalacrocorax graculus). It is smaller than the common cormorant. Both these species are found also on the eastern coasts of America, and there are various other American as well as Australian species. Research Cormorant
The Corvidae is the crow family of Conirostral birds and includes rooks, crows, ravens, magpies, jays and choughs. The members are characterized by a powerful beak, more or less compressed at the sides, with the upper mandible more or less arched to the point and the gape nearly straight. The nostrils are concealed by stiff bristles. They are birds of firm and compact structure, with long, powerful, pointed wings. Their feet and claws are robust. They are bold and daring birds with a propensity for stealing bright gaudy objects which they hide away. Research Corvidae
Abbreviations
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