Birds of the Indian Hills 



May or June it constructs, high up in a tree, a 

 rough nest, which is usually well concealed by 

 the thick foliage. The nest is a shallow cup 

 or platform in the midst of which is a depres- 

 sion, lined with grass and hair. Horse-hair is 

 used in preference to other kinds of hair ; if 

 this be not available crows will use human hair, 

 or hair plucked from off the backs of cattle. 

 Those who put out skins to dry are warned 

 that nesting crows are apt to damage them 

 seriously. Three or four eggs are laid. These 

 are dull green, speckled with brown. Crows 

 affect great secrecy regarding their nests. If 

 a pair think that their nursery is being looked 

 at by a human being, they show their dis- 

 pleasure by swearing as only crows can, and by 

 tearing pieces of moss off the branch of some 

 tree and dropping these on the offender's 

 head ! 



Two species of chough, the red-billed 

 {Graculus eremita), which is identical with the 

 European form, and the yellow-billed chough 

 (Pyrrkocorax alpinus), are found in the Hima- 

 layas ; but he who would see them must either 

 ascend nearly to the snow-line or remain on in 

 the hills during the winter. 



Blue-magpies are truly magnificent birds, 

 30 



