12 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



Africa below the Sahara, i.e. the Ethiopian region proper. 

 Only one Crow is found in the Pacific Islands, viz., Coront 

 hawaiensis of the Sandwich Islands : otherwise the Crows are 

 not represented in Oceania. 



The genus Coront may he divided into two main groups, the 

 Hooded, or Saddle-backed Crows, and the True Crows. Of the 

 former group there are five species with grey necks, or mantles, 

 while all the rest of the species, some fifteen in number, are 

 entirely black. Of the grey-necked section our Hooded Crow 

 is the most familiar species. It is found over the greater part 

 of Europe, and in Western Siberia is represented by a very 

 similar species, Corone sliarpii, which winters in North-west- 

 ern India. In Persia and Mesopotamia a third species occurs 

 ( C. capellanus). Of the True Crows, we have but one species in 

 Europe, the Carrion Crow, but this is represented in the Indian 

 and Australian Regions by many forms, so like one another 

 that only a prolonged study can result in a proper understand- 

 ing of the species. 



I. THE HOODED CROW. CORONE CORNIX. 



Corvus comix, Linn., S. N., i., p. 156 (1766); Macg., Br. B., i., 

 P- 5 2 9 ( l8 37); Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 543, pi. 263, fig. 2 

 ( 1S74); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 275 (1878); B. O. U. List 

 Br. B.,p. 69 (1SS3); Seeb., Hist. Br. B., i, p. 544 (1SS3); 

 Saunders, Man., p. 235 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., 

 pt. xi. (1889). 



Corone comix, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., iii., p. 31 (1877). 



Adult Male. — Above drab-grey; head, wings, and tail purplish 

 black, with green reflections; sides of neck and under surface 

 of body drab grey; bill and legs black; iris dark brown. 

 Total length, 17 inches; Oilmen, 2-4; wing, 12*5; tail, 7-8; 

 tarsus, 2*2. 



s alike in colour. 



Young. Duller in colour than the adult, the grey dusky, and 

 the black dull without glossy reflections ; the lanceolate plumes 

 on the throat not developed. 



The grey back of the Hooded Crow and its grey breast 

 render it easily recognisable from all its brethren, and these 



