in the vicinity of Calcutta. 95 



53. Oxylophts edolins. Not rare. 



54. 0. Coromundiis. Rare. 



55. Centropus Phillipensis. Common. 



N.B. For notices of the preceding and other oriental Cuciilidce, 

 vide my monograph of the group, published in the Bengal Asiatic 

 Society's Journal, N.S., Nos. 46 and 47. 



56. Caprimulgits Gangeticus, nobis. Rather common. 



57. C. monticolus, Franklin. Rare. 



58. C. Asiaticus. Very common ; but aU three species found only 

 in the Avinter months. The females of C. Asiaticits have the white 

 spots on the wings and tail as in the other sex. 



59. Cypselus ajfinis. Very common, but confined to urban districts, 

 roosting and breeding under the roofs of houses, oftenth-nes at no 

 great distance from the ground in crowded thoroughfares. 



60. C. palmarum. A rural species, also very common, and roost- 

 ing and breeding in the fronds of the fan-leaved palms. Both these 

 swifts are permanently resident throughout the year. 



61. Corvus macrorhgnchus.Wagler ; C. culminatus, Sykes ; C. co- 

 rone, var. Franklin. Chiefly found along the river bank, preying on 

 carrion. This bird is styled Raven by Europeans, v.hich has given 

 rise to the current notion that the C. corax inhabits the plains of 

 India, which it does not, except partially in the immediate vicinity of 

 the Himalaya, 



62. C. splendens, Meillot. The common crow of India. A most 

 abundant, very noisy, familiar, and impudent species, frequenting the 

 vicinity of human abodes, alike in the villages and in the crowded 

 streets of large towns. About the latter they walk and hop like do- 

 mestic birds, wherever food is to be picked up, just stepping aside 

 out of the way of the passers-by, and regardless of the ordinary throng : 

 but they still retain all the craft and wariness of their tribe, and are 

 ever vigilant, making off on the least suspicious movement, or even 

 on the fixed glance of a stranger : they require but small encourage- 

 ment, however, to be most troublesomely bold, and do not always 

 wait for such encouragement, peeping into dwelling-rooms, cawing 

 loudly the while, passing through them by different windows, and if 

 opportunity offers, making free with anything that attracts them by 

 the way. Though highly social, this crow is not properly gregarious, 

 like the rook and jackdaw of England ; and does not build in society, 

 resembling the C. corone in this respect, though, from its common- 

 ness, two or three pairs may sometimes resort to the same large tree. 

 Their noise, from the multitude of them, is incessant ; and if any- 

 thing (as the sight of a dead crow) excite them, is most uproarious 

 and annoying. They are about, too, from the earliest dawn till late 

 in the evening, and are far from being quiet on moonlight nights. 

 Eager, busy, and bustling, their flight is always singularly hurried, 

 as if time were a matter of some consequence to them ; and, in short, 

 ever)'- trait of the crow tribe is prominently developed in this species. 



The report of a gun excites a grand commotion among the com- 

 munity of crows ; they circle and cross rapidly to and fro overhead, 

 for the most part out of range, cawing lustily, and dodging when the 



