no A BIRD CALENDAR 



used for the fixing of the corks of soda-water 

 bottles, or pieces of tin discarded by tin- 

 smiths. 



Four, five or six eggs are laid ; these are 

 of a pale greenish-blue hue, speckled or 

 flaked with sepia markings. The hen alone 

 collects the materials for the nest, but the 

 cock supervises her closely, following her 

 about and criticising her proceedings as she 

 picks up twigs and works them into the nest. 



From the time of the laying of the first 

 egg until the moment of the departure of 

 the last young bird, one or other of the parents 

 always mounts guard over the nest, except 

 when they are chasing a koel. Crows are con- 

 firmed egg-lifters and chicken-stealers ; they 

 apply their standard of morality to other birds, 

 and, in consequence, never leave their own 

 offspring unguarded. A crow's nest at which 

 there is no adult crow certainly contains 

 neither eggs nor young birds. 



As has already been stated, crows spend 

 much time in teasing and annoying other 

 birds. Retribution overtakes them in the 

 nesting season. The Indian koel (Eudynamis 

 honorata) cuckolds them. The crows either 

 are aware of this or have an instinctive dislike 



