144 CORVID^E. 



147. GraCUlUS eremita, Koch, Syst. baier, Zool. p. 91 ; Reid, Cat. B. 

 Prov.Uus., Oudh, p. 122. Corvus graculus, Linn, Syst. N. i.p. 158. Gracula 

 pyrrhocorax, Scop. Ann. i. p. 42 (iiec. L.). Fregilus graculus, Cuv. Regne> 

 Anim., 1817, p. 406 ; Gould, Birds Eur. pi. 210. Pyrrhocorax graculus, Tern. 

 Man. i. p. 122; Dresser, B. Eur. pi. xxxvii. Fregilus himalayanus, Gould. 

 P. Z. S., 1862, p 125 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 318, No. 679. Graculus graculus, 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. ii. p. 146. The HIMALAYAN CHOUGH. 



Above and below black, glossed with purple and green ; wings black, 

 externally dull green ; tail dull greenish black ; bill deep vermilion or coral 

 red ; legs the same ; iris brown. 



Length. 15 to 16 inches; wing n to 1275; tail 5'8 to 6-75; culmen 

 1-95 to 2*2. 



Hob. Europe, Central Asia, N. and N.-E. Africa, the Himalayas, Beloo- 

 chistan, in the Bolan Pass, Afghanistan, Persia, the N.-W. Provinces of India, 

 Cashmere and Nepaul. In the Punjab and N.-W. Provinces it has been re- 

 corded from Kumaon and Darjeeling. Jerdon says it is found on the Hima- 

 layas in flocks, some of them emigrating with the Jackdaw to the plains of the 

 Punjab. Blanford met with it between Bampur and Narmashir in April, at not 

 more than 4,000 feet above the sea, and again in the higher parts of the Elburz 

 Mountains. The Chough is as full of curiosity and as noted for petty thefts 

 as its cousin, the Crow. It is easily tamed, but restless in captivity. It is 

 extremely shy in the wild state, and does great service in killing the grubs 

 which affect cultivation. Insects as grasshoppers, grubs of every kind, beetles 

 and grain are its chief food. Of its nidification in India nothing is known. 

 In England the nests are placed in clefts and cavities of inaccessible cliffs. 

 The eggs are 4 5 in number, dull white, spotted with grey and brown, rather 

 thickly at the larger end. 



Gen. Pyrrhocorax. Vieiii. 



Bill shorter and stronger than in Fregilus, also less curved, the tip of upper 

 mandible toothed, and the base of lower mandible bare of feathers; feet 

 robust ; wings reaching to nearly the tip of the tail. 



148. Pyrrhocorax alpinus, Vieiii. N. Diet. d'Hist. vi. p. 568; 



Gould. B. Eur. iii. pi. 218; Bly. Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. 90; Jerd. B, Ind. 

 " P- 5 1 9> No. 680; Henderson and Hume, Lahore to Yarkand, p. 249; 

 Dresser, B. Eur. pi. xxxviii ; Ibis, 1875, p. 237; Scully, Str. F., 1876, 

 p. 162 ; Blf. East Peru. p. 263 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. iii. p. 149. The 

 ALPINE CHOUGH. 



PLATE. 



Glossy black all over, with iridescent tints ; bill yellow ; legs bright red or 

 dark vermilion red ; iris brown. 



