TREE CROWS. 157 



companies of three or four together, on the topmost branches of 

 the trees. They are extremely quick and restless, the whole 

 company leaping from branch to branch in rapid succession, at 

 the same time throwing up and expanding their tails and wings, 

 — actions which are generally accompanied by a harsh and un- 

 pleasant cry. Others inhabit the jungles of India, where their 

 peculiar metallic or harsh rattling notes betray their presence 

 even among the thickest foliage. 

 The best-known species — 



The Cinereous Wa.ttle-Bird {Calleas cinerea), is an inhabitant of 

 India: it measures fourteen or fifteen inches from the beak to the extremity 

 of the tail, and is remarkable for the possession of two fleshy, wattle-like 

 appendages, dependent on each side from the base of the lower mandible. 

 These wattles are of a blue colour at their base, but elsewhere of a bright 

 orange-yellow, giving the bird a very singular appearance. The wattle- 

 bird sometimes perches on trees, but is more trequently seen upon the ground, 

 where it seeks its food, which consists of insects, worms, and berries. It is 

 accused of killing young birds. Its voice is a sort of whistle, sometimes ac- 

 companied by a low murmuring sound, and is rather of an agreeable character. 



The Indian Magpie {Dendrocitta 7-itfa) is found throughout India, and 

 in mischief quite equals its European namesake. Mr. Smith says, "he has 

 known this bird enter the covered verandah of a house, nip off half a dozen 

 young geraniums, visit a cage of small birds, begin by stealing the grain, and 

 end by killing the birds, repeating these visits daily till it was destroyed." It 

 has also been known to enter a verandah and catch bats. 



The typical form is — 



The Fronted Dendrocitta {Dendrocitta frontalis). 



Sub -Family IV. 



THE CROWS PROPER. CORVINE. 



Ge.neral Characteristics. — Bill of various lengths, the base broad and the sides 

 compressed, with the culmen more or less curved to the tip, which is usually entire ; 

 the nostrils entirely concealed by the projecting frontal plumes, except when the 

 head and cheeks are denuded of feathers ; the wings long and slightly rounded ; 

 the tarsi long, lengthened, and covered in front with broad scales ; the toes mode- 

 rate, strong, and the lateral ones of equal length. 



The birds belonging to this sub-family are found in most parts 

 of the globe. Some remain stationary within a certain district, 

 while others migrate from place to place on the change of season. 



