PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 33 



parts dull black, with a slight greenish gloss ; the bases of the 

 body feathers white. Birds from the dry districts appear 

 to be quite as dark as those from the wet zone. Pied and 

 albino specimens are occasionally seen. Young birds are 

 duller and less glossy. 



Bill black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet black. Dimen- 

 sions a little variable. Length about 16*5; wing 10*5; 

 tail 6*25 ; tarsus 1*9; bill from gape 1 '9. 



Distrihidion. — Found all round the coast, except, perhaps, 

 in the waste tract between Hambantota and Arugam Bay, but 

 never far inland. Various geographical races of this Crow are 

 found throughout India and Burma. The form occurring in 

 Ceylon is now recognized as a distinct sub-species. Unlike its 

 Indian relatives, the Ceylon form is never found far from the 

 sea. In Legge's time it was rare even on the coast south of 

 Kalutara on the west and Arugam Bay on the east ; but 

 nowadays it is common, at any rate as far east as Hambantota. 

 It is especially numerous in the towns and villages throughoub 

 its range, but generally avoids uninhabited stretches of coast 

 line. Where found in any numbers, it has driven out the 

 Black Crow. The curious distribution of the two species is 

 well seen in the Tangalla district of the Southern Province. 

 In the coastal bazaars, such as Tangalla and Ranna, and at 

 Weeraketiya and other villages, about 8 miles inland, the 

 present spacies occurs ; whereas in the intervening fields and 

 chena tracts the Black Crow still holds its own. 



Habits. — The House Crow is even more omnivorous and far 

 more gregarious than the last species, while its cunning and 

 thievish impudence are well known to all Colombo residents. 

 The breeding season is from May to August, but mainly in 

 May and June. The nest is similar to that of the Black Crow, 

 but the birds generally build in scattered rookeries. The 

 eggs, generally four in number, are ovaJ, slightly pointed at the 

 smaller end. The ground colour is usuallj'' brighter than in 

 those of the last species, the markings- are darker and more 

 profuse, while the under-markings are seldom so noticeable, 

 and are at times altogether absent. Average size 1*4 by 

 1-06. 



5 .6(17)21 



