352 COEONE SPLENDENS. 



ou sandflies, which they are very fond of, or engaged in pranks with the hermit-crabs, that the affairs of 

 the day seemed to be discussed. Often at midday a noisy meeting would take place on the banks of the 

 lake, and while several dozen birds held an angry debate on some fellow Crow who was posted in the middle 

 of the circle, others would bathe up to the thighs in the water, ducking themselves and splashing in all 

 directions. A striking instance of the Crow's love of mischief and his innate impudence was exemplified at 

 Colombo in his habit of annoying the unoffending little Grebes which frequented the lake ; apparently for 

 the sake of seeing them disappear under the water, he would dart down on them over and over again. 



In the towns the Grey Crow invariably roosts on the fronds of eocoanut-trees, sitting close together in 

 rows, but not settling down for the night until a considerable time has been spent in noisy discussion. It 

 appears to feel the tropical heat at midday, taking shelter under the shadiest branches, and often panting 

 with its bill wide open. 



Nidification. — The breeding-season on both west and east coasts lasts from May until July. The nests 

 are built in trees near human habitations, generally at a considerable height from the ground. Scarcely ever 

 more than two are found in the same tree, and it is usual to find but one. They are placed in the fork of a 

 tree and made of sticks lined with coir-fibre, small roots, wool, hair, or any substance which will suit the 

 purpose ; the interior is very shallow in some and moderately deep in others, and usually measures about 

 G inches across. The eggs are from three to four in number and vary much in shape, although typically 

 they are slightly pointed ovals. The ground-colour is also somewhat varied, being in some of an olivaceous 

 bluish green, and in others of a light blue-green. Normally they are rather closely freckled and spotted 

 with brownish grey and light brown all over, but chiefly at the large end, where there are, in some instances, 

 a few darker brown streaks. They vary considerably in length, but not in general bulk, averaging about 

 1*4 by TOG inch, the largest that I have measured not exceeding 1"6 by T08ineh. 



It breeds in the Himalayas up to 4000 feet ; the season, par excellence, says Mr. Hume, " is June and 

 July ; but occasionally nests will be found earlier even in Upper India, and in Southern and Eastern India 

 a great number lay in May." Miscellaneous material is used for the construction of the nests, particularly in 

 the matter of lining; and Blyth speaks of some nests being exclusively composed of wires taken from soda- 

 water bottles, which had been purloined from heaps set aside by native servants for sale. 



The same variety of form and marking of the eggs is observable in Indian specimens, and the average 

 of a large number "is T44 bv TOG inch." 



Genus CISSA. 



Bill moderately short, stout, wide at the base ; culmen well curved, the tip with a plainly 

 indicated notch ; nasal bristles short ; gape furnished with short rictal bristles. Eye surrounded 

 by a prominent naked wattle. Wings short, rounded, the 6th quill longest. Tail long and 

 graduated. Legs and feet stout. Tarsus equal to the middle toe with its claw ; lateral toes 

 subequal. 



