32 CORVIDJE. 



(10) Corvus cornix sharpii. 

 THE EASTERN HOODED CROW. 



Corvtta sharpii Gates, Avifauna of B. I., i, p. 20 (1889) (Siberia). 

 Corvus cornix. Blanf. & Oates, i. p. 19. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Entire head arid neck, the central part of the 

 upper breast, the wings, tail and thighs glossy black ; remainder of 

 the plumage drab-grey the shafts of the upper parts black, those 

 of the lower brown. 



The light parts in the Common Hooded Crow are as/ty-grey of 

 quite a different tint and the races are easily separable. 



Colours of soft parts. Legs and bill black ; irides dark brown. 



Measurements. Total length about 480 mm.; wing about 

 320 to 340 mm.; tail aboub 200 mm.; culmen 47 to 54 mm.; 

 tarsus about 55 mm. 



Distribution. Breeding in West Siberia, Turkestan and 

 Afghanistan, and migrating south to the extreme north-west of 

 India, Punjab, Gilgit and the North-West Frontier. Kare visitor 

 to Kashmir, where Mr. T. it. Livesey records seeing it ; this was 

 on Jan. 10th near the Hokra Jheel. The birds of S.E. Persia 

 seem to be nearer to this race than to C. c. capellanus. 



Nidification. Mr. A. J. Currie obtained what he considered 

 to be this form of Hooded Crow breeding in great numbers in 

 and about Kerinan, S.E. Persia, at considerable elevations. The 

 nests were of sticks, twigs, roots, etc,, lined with somewhat finer 

 material and placed in trees both evergreen and deciduous. The 

 eggs number four or five and are laid in early April. They arn 

 quite indistinguishable from those of the Common Hooded Crow 

 and measure about 42*2 x 29'6' mm. They vary in coloration 

 to the same extent as all Crows' eggs do. 



Habits. The Hooded Crow has much the same habits as the 

 Carrion-Crow, being shy and frequenting the more barren parts 

 of the countries it inhabits. In addition to eating the usual food 

 of its ally, it is said to feed on grain and to be found in fields 

 searching the ground like the Rook. 



A common winter visitor to the extreme North-west of India. 



This form of Hooded Crow as well as the European form 

 seems to interbreed freely over part of their northern habitat with 

 the Carrion-Crow, 



Corvus splendens. 

 Key to Subspecies. 



A. Difference between grey and black portion 



of plumage well defined C. s. splendens, p. 33. 



B. Pale portions of plumage very pale contrast- 



ing strongly with dark C. s. ziigmuyeri, p. 34. 



