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Mr. C. W. Wyatt states (Ibis, 1870, p. 16) that he believes he saw it on the plains of El 

 Gaa, in the peninsula of Sinai, and recognized it by Canon Tristram's figure in ' The Ibis.' 

 Captain Shelley speaks of it as being resident in Egypt and Nubia, but somewhat uncommon ; 

 and Captain Clark-Kennedy obtained it there. He also adds (Ibis, 1871, p. 142) that the 

 Rev. A. C. Smith, in his ' Attractions of the Nile,' ii. p. 276, mentions seeing a pair of small 

 jet-black Crows at El Kab, which doubtless belonged to this species ; and Dr. Th. von Heuglin 

 writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 505) as follows : — " I once saw it at Thebes, afterwards in Southern 

 Nubia, in the oasis of El Kab, at Kordofan, throughout the whole of Abyssinia up to an 

 altitude of 10,000 to 12,000 feet ; on the Danakil and Somali coasts in large flocks in October. 

 In general it is much more gregarious in its habits than C. umbrinus or C. scapalaris ; in the 

 plains, in the mountains, and on the coast it is not unfrequently seen, as also near human 

 habitations. In the highlands it appears to breed in colonies in the cliffs, and I saw large 

 flocks circling round like Jackdaws. In the flat country it is rarer, usually occurring in pairs ; 

 and it sometimes inhabits the most sterile deserts, frequenting the caravan halting-places and 

 the wells." Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub say (Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 373) that it is more especially a 

 mountain bird, and in Abyssinia, where it is common, it is met with at an altitude of 11,000 feet 

 and above that height in the mountains. Mr. Blanford, who met with it in Abyssinia, writes 

 (Geol. & Zool. of Abyss, p. 393), "in the air it may be immediately recognized by its short tail 

 and long secondary quills ; and its croak is much deeper than that of most Crows. It abounds 

 everywhere on the highlands and in the subtropical zone, and it descends almost to the sea-level 

 at times. When I first visited Komayli, at the base of the hills, in January, the only Crow to 

 be seen was O. scccpulatus ; but in February, after some rain had fallen, C. affinis abounded. In 

 the former instance I first met with this species at about 3000 feet, near Mayen. In May it had 

 retreated once more to its former range, and the White-breasted Crow alone was to be seen in 

 the tropical region. In ascending to the Bogos country it first appeared on the Lebka at about 

 12,000 feet above the sea, at Ain." Mr. W. Jesse, when on the Abyssinian Expedition, observed 

 it from Koomaylee to Addigerat from March to May, and adds that it was common there. 

 Riippell found it numerous at Massana and Schendi, in Nubia ; and Speke records it from the 

 Somali country. 



Beyond what is given above, but little is known respecting the habits of this Raven, except 

 the observations recorded by Dr. A. E. Brehm, who writes (Erg. Reis. Habesch, pp. 323-325) as 

 follows : — " In the mountains this Raven is never absent ; and so peculiar a bird is always 

 observed ; or even if one does not see it, one is sure ere long to hear its clear note ; and then 

 one sees a pair or a whole, flock sailing round, floating with outstretched, motionless wings, like 

 a Buzzard, for a considerable distance, and very distinguishable from any of its allies. Even 

 when sitting it is unmistakeable ; for its wings extend 3 or 3^ inches beyond the short tail. Its 

 usual note is a Raven-like kuck, or a somewhat chattering kua, Jcua. At the camping-places it 

 appears as regularly as it does in the mountain- villages, and arrives even whilst the camels are 

 being unloaded — probably allured by the plaintive cry of those animals ; and the pair (for it 

 never goes singly) settle down on some lofty tree or point of a rock and watch the proceedings 

 below. So soon as all becomes quiet in the camp it comes down and walks boldly about 

 amongst the baggage and groups of people. At the mountain-villages it appears in the morning 



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