36 CORVID®. 
~ (15) Corvus monedula seemmeringii. 
THE Eastern JACKDAW. 
Corvus scemmeringit Fischer, Mém. Soc. Imp. Natur. Moscou, 1, p. 3 
(1811) (Moscow). 
Corvus monedula. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 22. ¢ 
a 
Vernacular names. Paya (Tibetan). 
Description. Forehead and crown glossy black; nape and hind 
neck dusky grey; sides of the head and neck light grey, almost 
white, and forming a half-collar on the posterior portion of the 
side of the neck; lores blackish ; upper plumage, wings and tail 
bluish black with a considerable amount of gloss; chin and cheeks 
black with grey shaft-streaks ; throat and fore neck entirely black ; 
remainder of lower plumage slaty black with very little gloss. 
Fig. 7.—Head of C. m. semmeringii. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris nearly white; legs, feet and_ bill 
black. 
Measurements. Length about 320 to 340 mm.; wing 230 to 
250 mm.; tail about 135 mm.; tarsus about 44 mm.; culmen 
32 to 34 mm. 
Distribution. Breeding from Eastern Russia, Macedonia, Bul- 
garia, Turkey, through Asia as far east as the Meneae and south 
to Persia, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Ladakh and Eastern Tibet. In 
winter it waiders into the plains, being numerous close to the 
Himalayas and having been found as far south as Ferozepore, 
Jhelum and Kalabagh, and as far east as Umballa. 
Nidification. The Eastern Jackdaw breeds in great numbers in 
Kashmir, West Ladakh, Gilgit, ete., making its nest of all kinds of 
rubbish in old buildings, hollow trees and holes in cliffs. It lays 
four to seven eges—of a very pale sea-green colour, sparsely marked 
with spots and specks of dark brown and purple. They average 
about 34:2 x 24:9 mm. in size but vary very much both in length 
and breadth, even in the same clutch. The breeding season com- 
mences in April but eggs may be found until the end of June. 
