63 



Crows, out of pure mischief, make a point of looking 

 in at every king-crow's nest they come across, just to 

 enquire after the health of the youngsters, and, if the 

 opportunity presents itself, to eat them up. The 

 crows rarely reach the nest. There is no bird more 

 vigilant than the drongo, so that while the aggressor 

 is yet far off the gallant little fellow dashes out to 

 meet him. The crow, not being over valorous, sud- 

 denly discovers that he has forgotten something, his 

 card case for preference, and turns back, hotly 

 chased by the king-crows who endeavour to get above 

 him and secure a beakful of feathers. I do not think 

 that they often succeed in getting a punishing blow 

 home, for the crow, when pushed, is capable of show- 

 ing a fine turn of speed. Be this as it may, one of 

 the commonest sights in India during the months of 

 June, July and August is a couple of tiny specks giving 

 chase to a great crow. 



Last hot weather some drongos and crows elected 

 to nest in the same tree, and it chanced that that 

 tree was growing within a dozen yards of my office 

 in the Fort at Madras. The Battle of the Yalu 

 Kiver sinks into insignificance when compared with 



