130 



In Mesopotamia (Fao), this species appears to be the lighter drab, or nearly 

 white form, which, according to Sharpe, is Corone capellana, Sclater, but, 

 examining a series the lighter or whitish colour is not so apparent as to separate 

 it as a distinct species. According to Sharpe, it has also been found in the 

 Deccan ; this must surely be an error, or the bird is very rare. 



Wherever the Hooded Crow occurs, it always keeps about towns and villages. 

 Its habits are those of C. splendens. In India (e.g.), Punjab, it is a migrant, 

 while in Persia it remains throughout the year. In Beloochistan it is fairly 

 common above the Bolan Pass, but during the autumn only. 



127. Corone splendens, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. viii. p. 44 ; Tern, 

 PI. Col. ii. pi. 425 ; Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 315 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 298 ; Hume, 

 Str. F. vol. viii.; Murray, Hdbk. Zool., &c., Sind, p. 173. Corvus impudi- 

 cus, Gray, Handlist B. ii. p. 14; Hume, Str. F. i. p. 206; Str. F. ii. 

 pp. 418, 493 ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 176; Oates B. Burma, p. 398. 

 Corone insolens, Hume, Str. F. 1875, p. 144 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vol. 

 iii. p. 34 ; Oates B. Burma, vol. i. p. 399. The COMMON INDIAN CROW. 



Nasal bristles, crown of head, lores, sides of face, chin, throat, back, wings 

 and tail glossy black with purplish, or steel blue reflections ; lower abdomen 

 flanks, vent, under tail and thigh coverts dull black ; nape, hind neck, sides, 

 of the neck, and part of the upper back a greyish drab ; breast and upper part 

 of the abdomen dark ashy; under wing coverts and auxiliaries dull black ; bill 

 and legs black ; irides deep brown. 



Length. 16 to 17 inches; wing n to 11*25 ; ta ^ 7 5 bill at front ri2. 

 Hob. Throughout India to the foot of the Himalayas and Ceylon, Assam, 

 B. Burmah, Tennaserim and Malacca. 



The Indian House Crow like its congeners, is extremely social, and lives 

 about towns feeding on almost anything and everything ; dead mice, rats, 

 putrid flesh, fruit, &c., in fact, is a general scavenger. Breeds from the middle 

 of March to the beginning of June, laying generally four eggs of a greenish, 

 colour, marked with various shades of brown. The nest is made of twigs, 

 lined with grass, hair, rags, or any other soft material. 



I do not separate splendens and insolens. From an examination of a large 

 series of insolens sent to me by Mr. Calthrop fromTonghoo, Karenne, and other 

 parts of Burmah and Tennaserim, I have come to the conclusion that it can- 

 not be specifically separated from splendens. If shades of colour, especially of 

 grey and brown are to constitute species, Ornithology will soon reach a state 

 of confusion, from which it will never be extricated. Races and sub-species, 

 sound well, but both help to make what never should be. 



128. Corone COrone, Linn. S. N. i. p. 155 ; Mac Gill, Br. B. i. 

 P- S 1 ^; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 295; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 410; 

 Scully, Str. F. 1876, p. i$6; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. iii. p. 36. The 

 CARRION CROW. 



