32 CORVID. 
-++ (10) Corvus cornix sharpii. 
Tue Eastern Hooprp Crow. 
Corvus sharp Oates, Avifauna of B. I., 1, p. 20 (1889) (Siberia). 
Corvus cornie. Blanf. & Oates, i. p. 19. 
Vernacular names. None recorded. 
Description. Entire head and neck, the central part of the 
upper breast, the wings, tail and thighs glossy black ; remainder of 
the plumage drab-grey ; the shafts of the upper parts black, those 
of the lower brown. 
The light parts in the Common Hooded Crow are ashy-grey of 
quite a different tint and the races are easily separable. 
Colours of soft parts. Legs and bill black: irides dark brown. 
Measurements. Total length about 480 mm.; wing about 
320 to 340 mm.; tail about 200 mm.; culmen 47 to 54 mm.; 
tarsus about 55 mm. 
Distribution. Breeding in West Siberia, Turkestan and 
Afghanistan, and migrating south to the extreme north-west of 
India, Punjab, Gilgit and the North-West Frontier. Rare visitor 
to Kashmir, where Mr. T. &. Livesey records seeing it; this was 
on Jan. 10th near the Hokra Jheel. The birds of S.E. Persia 
seem to be nearer to this race than to C. ¢. capellanus. 
Nidification. Mr. A. J. Currie obtained what he considered 
to be this form of Hooded Crow breeding in great numbers in 
and about Kerman, S.E. Persia, at considerable elevations. The 
nests were of sticks, twigs, roots, ete., lined with somewhat finer 
material and placed in trees both evergreen and deciduous. The 
eggs number four or five and are laid in early April. They are 
quite indistinguishable from those of the Common Hooded Crow 
and measure about 42°2x29°6 mm. They vary in coloration 
to the same extent as all Crows’ eggs do. 
Habits. The Hooded Crow has much the same habits as the 
Carrion-Crow, being shy and frequenting the more barren parts 
of the countries it inhabits. In addition to eating the usual food 
of its ally, it is said to feed on grain and to be found in fields 
searching the ground like the Rook. 
A common winter visitor to the extreme North-west of India. 
This form of Hooded Crow as well as the European form 
seems to interbreed freely over part of their northern habitat with 
the Carrion-Crow. 
Corvus splendens. 
Key to Subspecies. 
A. Difference between grey and black portion 
of plumage WO ll NGletine Csestepanaie siete eyes cele e C. s, splendens, p. 33. 
B. Pale portions of plumage very pale contrast- 
ing strongly with dark .............. .. C.s8. sugmayert, p. 34. 
