214 PASSERES. CORVID,. 



while in his beak, and also drew it out by setting his 

 foot on it, and took it in another position ; but seemed 

 to have no power of dividing it. 



Robinson says, " They are great devourers of ripe 

 plantains and bananas, and also rob the wild 

 pigeons of their eggs and young. When tame, they 

 are very droll and diverting, and as arrant thieves as 

 our Jackdaws and Magpies, stealing knives, spoons, 

 thimbles, &c., and hiding them. They abandon all 

 such plantations as have the woods much cleared 

 away from them, of which there have been many 

 instances. They are often seen stooping down and 

 drinking the water that is deposited in the bosom of 

 the leaves of the largest wild pines. When em- 

 ployed in stealing plantains, they are said to be 

 very silent, but at other times are the most loqua- 

 cious, noisy animals breathing. I have been in- 

 formed by some very creditable persons, that they 

 will attack and destroy a yellow-snake; their me- 

 thod is to fly upon him one after another, and 

 tearing away a mouthful of his skin and flesh, re- 

 treat. This they do with great nimbleness, and 

 with impunity, till they have devoured the poor 

 animal alive." (MSS.) 



Once in walking in a very lonely wood, I came 

 suddenly on a Jabbering Crow sitting on a low tree 

 just over my head ; the bird was evidently startled, 

 and in the surprise quite lost its presence of mind / 

 for instead of making off with the usual clamour, 

 it flew mute to another low tree a few yards off, 

 where it sat peeping at me in silence, until I shot 

 it. 



