CORVINE. 299 



inappropriate specific name should have been applied to this 

 species, for it tends to bring into ridicule, among the unscientific, 

 the system of nomenclature. 



This Crow, though eminently social, is not strictly gregarious, but 

 it roosts in company in vast numbers, and there are certain spots 

 near all large towns or stations, where they nightly congregate 

 for this purpose, coming from a distance varying from three to 

 ten miles of radius. Great is the clamour in selecting a spot, 

 and numerous are the squabbles, and prolonged to a late hour, 

 before all are settled for the night ; and this noise is increased 

 by the swarms of Parrakeets, Mynas, and other birds, that all 

 have their night's lodgings together. 



Very early in the morning, the Crows are on the alert, occasionally 

 before daylight, but generally shortly afterwards ; and, after a 

 considerable, amoimt of cackling and flying hither and thitlier, 

 probably to compare notes of yesterday's success in foragino^, 

 perhaps to propose an interchange of locality for the day, they 

 disperse in parties, varying from two or three to twenty, thirty, or 

 more ; those that have a distance to go, starting early, and those 

 whose hunting grounds are at hand, taking it more leisurely, 

 chatting with their neighbours, or making themselves smart by a 

 little extra pruning of their feathers. 



The food of this Crow is greatly varied ; but, as a rule, it may 

 be said that it lives on the crumbs that fall from the food of man. 

 Many natives eat habitually out of doors, and the remnants of 

 boiled rice or other grain are thrown away, whilst, in those that 

 feed within doors, the fragments are pitched out at certain stated 

 intervals, well known to the Crows of the vicinity, who proceed 

 from house to house, warned by some watchful member of their 

 community when the feast is at hand. So well known is the 

 process of cooking, that a small fire, or rather its attendant smoke, 

 even in some unusual spot, far away from their daily haunt, will 

 at once attract one or two hungry Crows, who, if the symptoms of 

 food are favorable, remain for the expected leavings. In the inter- 

 vals between the meals of mankind, some betake themselves early 

 in the morning to some plain that has perhaps been flooded, to 

 pick up a crab, a frog, a fish, or insect. Others hunt for grubs in 



