150 CORVUS UMBRIXUS 



Boyd Alexander writes : " On February 25, wc discovered a 

 nest ready for eggs on a ledge of rock close to the sea and 

 about 30 feet up. Locusts formed the chief food of these 

 birds, which they hunted in a most systematic manner. On 

 several occasions I had the opportunity of watchhig them 

 on the war path. A party get together, and straightway set 

 about circumventing a portion of ground that is likely to 

 hold locusts. Then a certain number spread themselves out 

 like the cordon system of outposts, while the remainder, with 

 quick strides, beat up the ground towards the locusts, which 

 jump forward — the majority becoming the prey of the birds 

 drawn up in line, who, carrying out the principle of ' share 

 and share alike,' act in their turn as the skirmishers of the 

 next beat. Three specimens were obtained (one a pied 

 variety)." On the Island of Brava, he calls it " common 

 everywhere." Fea procured specimens at Boavista, San 

 Filippe and Sao Nicolau. On this latter island Boll met with 

 the species in large flocks, and remarks that it was called by 

 the natives the " Curvo." 



The most southern range known for the species is 

 Kawango on the eastern shore of Victoria Nyanza, where 

 Fischer obtained it during his last journey ; he also met with 

 it at Barawa on the Somali coast, and in this country Speke 

 found it fairl}- plentiful towards Berbera. 



On the island of Sokotra, according to Messrs. Ogilvie 

 Grant and H. 0. Forbes, it is known as the " Aaireb," but 

 when in flocks as "Aiiiroop." They did not find them 

 abundant anywhere on the island, but were generally seen 

 in pairs and as a rule were not wild. The harsh croak of this 

 Crow thej^ liken to that of Corvus corax, but not so deep. 



Antinori considered it to be common between Takasia and 

 Adda Galla. Heuglin also records it from that country, 

 Abyssinia, the Eed Sea, Sennar, Kordofan and Egypt, 



