CROWS 59 



erected owing to the curious way in which the 

 upper part of the surface to which they are attached 

 is puffed out. The plumage generally seems to 

 be very easily wetted ; and, at times when that of 

 other birds looks quite normal, becomes so soaked 

 and matted as to show numerous whitish streaks 

 and lines where the pallid down beneath the large 

 feathers is exposed. In consequence of this, crows 

 detest continuously wet weather, and are more 

 subdued under its influence than at other times, 

 sitting perfect images of hopeless misery in the 

 most sheltered sites they can find, and hardly 

 caring even to converse whilst things are at the 

 worst. Their discomfort naturally reaches a climax 

 when violent wind accompanies the rain. During 

 the course of the only severe cyclone that visited 

 Calcutta in my time, there was an enormous 

 mortality among the crows, and for some days all 

 the roads and open spaces were strewed with dead 

 and crippled birds. Whilst the storm was at its 

 worst all the crows who could manage to do so 

 took refuge at the lee-side of walls, where they lay 

 flat on the ground, beaten upon by the pitiless and 

 pelting rain. One does not ordinarily sympathise 

 with crows, but under these circumstances one 

 could hardly fail to do so. Even during the brief 

 but violent storms that form such a characteristic 

 feature of the hot weather in Calcutta, large 

 numbers of crows often come to grief from being 



