( 458" ~) 
battled with a determation, worthy of a good cause, till they had, 
by dint of hard flying and perseverance, gained the opposite bank of 
the rapidly, flowing Ganges. Once safely across, a longer rest was 
indulged in. In this manner, and by short flights, they crept along 
at short intervals till they reached the foot of the avenue. Once 
there, they flew upwards, in a perpendicular fashion, as though 
keeping the trunks of trees between them and the storm. Securely 
regained their nests where their anxious young ones were awaiting 
their return. What occurred to us at the time was, that the crows 
or their leaders noticed two facts about the storm which raged. 
That the higher they flew the less progress they made, owing to 
unevenly distributed force of the tempest, that the storm raged and 
diminished by fits and starts. Several illustrations could be given 
of the intelligence of birds in general, but few seem to exhibit the 
marked mental ability found in Corvus splendens. 
GENUS NUCIFRAGA, (Nut-crackers) are a different type of bird 
from corvus ; they are more brown in colour, with spotted white 
plumage. Inhabit high altitudes and feed much on seeds and nuts. 
Bill is straight and longish, with a blunt tip ; nostrils hidden under 
short bristles ; 4th and 5th quills of the wings are the longest ; tail 
inclined to be lengthened ; tarsus and toes moderately strong ; hind 
toe longish, claw slightly curved. 
(666) NUCIFRAGA HEMISPILA, Himalayan nut-cracker, is found 
fairly common on nearing Tongloo, then again at Sandakphu. These 
birds take kindly to cold unhospitable heights, where chilly blasts, 
off snow clad Himalayas, seem to warm the cockles of their hearts. 
It is usually in such surroundings that their spirits rise to greater 
buoyancy and vivacity of life. When you meet them at Phalut or 
Jongri in February or March, in a cutting north wind, which sends 
a shiver through you, they are cheerful and happy, and seem to caw 
out— ‘Blow, blow thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as man’s 
ingratitude”—not that I can recollect any instance of unrequited 
errands of mercy performed by these Nut-crackers ; but their fore- 
lorn appearance somehow or other brought these thoughts into my 
mind on viewing them. The Nut-cracker is not unlike a crow pret- 
tily speckled with black and white. I was once told that crows at 
Sandakphu were speckled! This Nuctfraga is 15 inches in lengfth. 
It has a good strong bill which it finds a most uselul accessory or 
excavating, etc. The particular markings and colour of this species 
cannot be mistaken, as it is, as far as I can remember the only bird 
at this elevation, which answers to the same description. Pure 
white on the tail feathers, usually first attracts attention. These 
feathers are broadly tipped with white, what appears to be black 
from a distance is in reality light umber brown, on the head, wings 
