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of some miles. Cats, Martens, Falcons, and Hawks are numbered amongst .the most formidable of 

 the enemies with which they have often to contend ; the two first of these marauders plundering their 

 nests, while the latter attack both old and young birds. Of all the members of the family, none are 

 so well fitted for domestication ; large numbers are caught annually for this purpose, as their great 

 intelligence and pleasing disposition render them favourites with all lovers of the feathered tribes. 



THE GLOSSY CROW. 



The Glossy Crow (A?iomalocorax spkndens) is an inhabitant of the East Indies, and one of the 

 most elegant of the many representatives of the family met with in that part of the world. In this bird 

 the wings are so short as scarcely to reach the end of the long tail, and it has for this reason been 

 classed as forming a distinct subdivision of the group to which it belongs. The length of the Glossy 

 Crow is from fifteen to eighteen inches, seven inches of which are included in the tail ; and the wing 

 measures about eleven inches. The plumage upon the front of the head is a brilliant black, the back 

 of the head, nape, and upper part of the throat are lively grey; the back, wings, and tail black, 

 lighted up by a rich violet tint like tempered steel ; the chin, breast, and sides of the neck are black, 

 with a metallic lustre ; the breast is dark grey, and the middle of the belly a dusky black, lightly 

 marked with steel blue. 



Jerdon tells us that the name given to this species has been entirely misapplied, as many of its 

 congeners rival it in the brilliant gloss upon their coats. Every part of India affords a home to this 

 beautiful bird, which is met with in all the towns and villages from Ceylon to the Himalaya Mountains, 

 living upon the most friendly terms -with man during the day, and passing the night in company with 

 not merely its own kind, but with large parties of Parrots and Minas, amongst whom, as may be 

 easily imagined, disputes and fights are of constant occurrence, and anything like quiet or harmony 

 impossible. At dawn the whole party are awake, and at once commence their preparations for the 

 business of the day by carefully preening their feathers, chattering with the utmost vivacity among 

 themselves. The flock then divides into small parties of from twenty to forty birds, and fly over the 

 surrounding country often to a distance of ten miles from the place where they slept. It may literally 

 be said of the Glossy Crows that they live upon the crumbs that fall from man's table, for many of the 

 natives take their meals outside their huts, and at such times are generally surrounded by these birds, 

 who seize every morsel as it drops ; indeed, so well do they understand what the lighting of a fire 

 indicates, that the first appearance of smoke will attract them, and keep them hovering about the spot 

 until the expected food is ready to be eaten. Others, again, will seek for crabs, fish, frogs, or insects, 

 which they consume in large quantities, or follow Gulls and Sea Swallows in order to share their prey ; 

 some will search the fields for grubs, or relieve the cattle from the parasites by which they are tor- 

 mented ; others spend the day in robbing the banana-trees of their fruit, or hunt the winged Termites 

 in company with Bee-eaters, Kites, or even Bats. During the heat of the summer they may be seen 

 sheltering themselves under some thickly-foliaged branch from the power of the sun, and with beak 

 wide open, seem to pant for a breath of cool fresh air. The breeding season extends from April to 

 June ; and the nests, which are placed upon trees or the corners of a house, are formed of twigs, lined 

 with a bed of some soft material. The brood consists of four greenish-blue eggs (spotted and marked 

 with brown), this number being frequently increased by the addition of a Cuckoo's egg, that bird 

 seeming to have a decided preference for their nests when in search of a home for her offspring. 



The flight of these Crows is light and tolerably rapid. When pursued by an enemy they are 

 very dexterous in eluding its attacks — indeed, their courage, intelligence, and cunning are so highly 

 developed as to render them most interesting. Blyth tells us that they disport themselves about the 

 houses with great confidence, running hither and thither in a constant bustle, as though each moment 



