43 



the distribution went on, and the growing doubt as to 

 the wisdom of rejecting actual bread in favour of 

 hypothetical biscuit." 



I hear that a resident in Madras has been more 

 successful in taming crows than either Colonel 

 Cunningham or myself ; and that he has actually 

 induced a crow to perch upon his hand and take 

 food from him. I am further informed that the bird 

 " brings up " that which it has recently sent down 

 '*red lane," in anticipation of the better things it is 

 about to receive ! What bird, other than a crow, would 

 do such a thing ? 



Young crows, if taken from the nest, make enter- 

 taining but mischievous pets. Lockwood Kipling gives 

 an amusing account of a pair of such birds kept by 

 him. " They were miracles of naughtiness, delighting 

 in sly destruction and odd turns of malice, ever ready 

 to peck at a servant's hurrying heel, and especially 

 given to torment a little dog who hated them. 

 When he had a bone they came daintily stepping 

 together and concerted measures against him, exactly 

 like the stage villains of melodrama, manoeuvring 

 and skirmishing with keen enjoyment. On his part, 



