28 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA 



PASSERES. 

 Corvidce. 



The Corvidce are divided into the following sub-families : 

 Corvince, Parince and Paradoxornithince. , 



They are the most omnivorous of all birds : they eat all kinds 

 of food from carrion to grain. Jer. B. L, I, 292. 



Corvince comprise Crows, Magpies, Jays, Nutcrackers and 

 Choughs. Speaking of Corvince (Crows and Magpies) Jerdon (B.L 5 



I, 292) says: "Crows live on all kinds of food, may be seen eatirg 

 carrion with vultures ; eating winged Termites with Fly-catchers 

 and Bee-eaters, fishing with Gulls and Terns at the wake of a ship, 

 plucking fruit with Green Pigeons and Cuckoos, or eating grain with 

 Sparrows and Weaver-birds. ' 



"The majority feed habitually on the ground, others are 



strictly arboreal Most of them are omnivorous, but some 



of the smaller tropical species appear to confine their diet to 

 insects/' F. L, I, 11. 



"The Corvidce are almost omnivorous, Ravens and other strong 

 species even attacking weakly ewes or lambs and preying on small 

 mammals, birds and reptiles : Hooded and Carrion Crows, Rooks, 

 Magpies, Jackdaws and Jays suck eggs ; while Rooks, though un- 

 doubtedly beneficial, also grub up seed corn and potatoes. An 

 immense amount of insect-life is however destroyed and the larger 



forms dispose of carrion Magpies and Jays feed largely upon 



the ground and eat slugs, snails, worms, insects, nuts, acorns, 

 grain, seeds of conifers and other fruits. Nutcrackers devour 

 quantities of the last.... Jays store provisions and Jackdaws 

 pick insects off cattle/' E. B. C. N. H., 556. 



Corvus : very predaceous and carnivorous. Jerd. B. I., 



II, 293. 



Ravens : Pigeons, pigeons' eggs, hares, chucor : trained for 

 hares. J. A. S. B., 1907, III, 116. 



