186 BOMBAY DUCKS 
we saw a crow abusing a kite. The kite looked at the 
crow in such a way as seemed to say: “Oh, you 
naughty rude woman! How can you demean yourself 
by calling me such shocking names?” And when we 
beheld all the fury of the crow virago we could not help 
sympathizing with the kite, who looked piety itself. 
Then we noticed that he was holding, under one claw, 
part of a young crow. 
The other part of the unfortunate bird was doubtless 
inside him, and it was nothing but the mad fury of the 
crow, and the occasional feints she made at pecking 
the plumage of the slayer of her young one, that 
prevented the part of the crow nestling outside the kite 
joining the portion inside it. After having perceived 
the cause of the wrath of the crow, one could scarcely 
sympathize any more with the kite. Had any other 
bird been victimized, I should have experienced keen 
sorrow for the bereaved parent, but for a crow,no! All 
sympathy on crows is sympathy wasted. I regarded 
her, not as a sorrowing parent, but as Satan rebuking 
sin. 
Interference on my part did not appear to be called 
for. Presently the kite flew off, carrying in its claw the 
remains of the young crow. The mother bird followed 
him up, swearing like a bargee, and, for all I know, she 
may still be giving that kite a bit of her mind. 
The above episode renders it obvious that crows 
have good cause to dislike kites. The reason of the 
hatred towards them displayed by king-crows is not so 
apparent; but then drongos attack all birds. Sometimes 
the crows and king-crows unite in mobbing a kite, the 
