CORONE. 129 



125. Coloeus monedula, /,///, s. N. i. p. 156; jerd. B. Ind. \\. 



p. 302; Hume, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 414; Scully, Str. F. 1876, 

 p. 258 ; Blanf. East Pers. p. 263. The JACKDAW. 



PLATE. 



Crown of the head, blue-black, forming a cap ; back of neck and nape fine 

 hoary bluish grey; rest of the plumage black ; the primaries and innermost 

 secondaries glossed green, also the tail on the edges of the feathers ; under- 

 wing and tail-coverts greenish black ; first quill shorter than the second, which 

 again is shorter than the third, the third and fourth sub-equal; bill, legs and 

 feet black. 



Length. 13 inches; bill 1-35 ; wing 9-5 ; tail 6'i ; tarsus 17. 



Hab. Europe and Africa, ranging into Persia, Afghanistan and the Punjab. 

 The ]ackda\v is an active and sprightly bird, and like most of the family to 

 which it belongs noted for thievery. It is readily tamed, and soon learns mi- 

 micry. Jackdaws are social birds, and live, like the Rook, in large communities. 

 They feed on insects, shellfish, putrid matter, and almost any garbage. They are 

 not particular as to the site they build on, cliffs, roofs of buildings, hollow trees, 

 and even chimneys quite suit them. The nest though built of sticks is lined 

 with wool, hair, or other soft material. They lay 4 5 eggs of a pale bluish 

 white colour, spotted with grey and brown. The young are hatched by the 

 end of May. Nothing is known of the nidification of the Jackdaw in India. 



Gen. Corone. Kaup. 



Differs from Corvus by the first primary being longer than the foremost 

 secondaries, but not longer than the inner. Nasal bristles directed horizon- 

 tally over the nostrils ; tarsi stout, scutate. 



126. Corone COmix, Linn. S. N. i. p. 156 ; Mac GUI. Kril. B. i. 

 P- 529 5 Jfrd., B. Ind. ii. p. 298 ; Scully, Sir. F. 1876, p. 156; Blanf., E. 

 Persia^ p. 262; Str. F. vii. p. 406, 517; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus., vol. iii. 

 p. 31. Corone cornix, Kaup. Nat. Syst. p. 99. Corone capellana, Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1876 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vol. iii. p. 32. THE HOODED CROW. 



Adult. Head, foreneck, and breast glossy blue-black ; wings and tail the 

 same, but with purplish and steel green reflections ; wing coverts blue-black ; 

 auxiliaries greyish ; upper tail coverts purplish brown, the edges grey ; thighs 

 dusky black ; rest of the plumage drab-grey ; bill and legs black ; irides 

 dark brown. 



Length. 17 to 18 inches; wing 12*2 to 12*5 ; tail 7'5 to 7'S ; culmen 2-35 

 to 2'4; tarsus 2-2 to 2*25. 



Hab. Great Britain, Central and Southern Europe, Beloochislan, Afghan- 

 istan, Persia, and the Punjab. 



