THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 255 



In addition to the migrants other birds usually residents in the 

 plains are found during the hot months at considerable elevations on 

 the hills. 



Ceniropus sinensis, Upupa epops, Artamus fuscus, Oriolus melano- 

 cephalus, Pycnonotus hcemorrhous, Thamnobia fulicata, Terpsi phone 

 paradisi are examples. The breeding season for most birds is from 

 April to June, but nests may be found in almost every month of the 

 year. For notes on nidification I am indebted to Mr. T. F. Bourdillon 

 almost entirely and, where possible, I have supplemented them from 

 my own observations. For five years I collected in the hills, viz., 

 from 1875 to 1880 ; since then I have collected in the low country and 

 have only been able to pay occasional visits to the higher elevations. 

 I have also employed a collector both in the hills and the low country. 



Family -CORVID^. 



Sub-family Corvince. 



(1) Corvus macrorhyncus. — The Jungle Crow. 



Oates, No. <L ; Jerdon, No. 660. 



The Jungle Crow is found commonly all over the country. In South 



Travancore it does not frequent the hills, but on Pirmerd, where there is 



open grass country, it is common. It nests in the hills and also in the 



low country, the breeding season being April to June. 



(2) Corvus splendent. — The Indian House Crow. 

 Oates, No. 5 ; Jerdon, No. 663. 

 This crow is common everywhere. The Public Gardens in Trevan- 

 drum are a happy hunting ground for it, and unless care is taken it 

 manages to get the food meant for the animals kept there in captivity. 

 It matters not whether this is fish, flesh or fruit — it i3 all the same to 

 this insatiable robber. Pierre Loti's description of them is most apt. 

 " Crows, everywhere crows, India is infested with crows . . . and even 

 here, in Travancore, in this land of peace and enchantment, their cries, 

 as soon as the day begins to silver the scene, fill the vault of palms to 

 check with a shiver the joy of all who live and who waken under this 

 glorious greenery. They say ' we are here, we, who are waiting for 

 the corruption of all flesh, and our food is certain and we eat every- 

 thing. . . . '" Mr. T. F. Bourdillon writes : " They build in May, 

 and I have even seen them commence in March, but I don't think they 

 ever lay before June. The nest is placed on trees and is composed of 

 sticks lined with wool, rags or hair. The usual number of eggs is four, 

 and they are greenish-blue, speckled and marked with brown and raw 



