3570 Notices of New Books : 



becomes deaf, suddenly arose such a din of corvine voices, such shrieks 

 and such a clashing of wings above and around us, that not one of the 

 conversationists or the listeners but that turned his head. The crow 

 is a kind of sacred bird amongst the Hindoos, which fact accounts, in 

 some degree, for his uncommon impertinence. He is fed at certain 

 seasons with boiled rice and other delicacies, so that he never, at any 

 time, can witness the operation of cooking with the slightest attempt 

 at patience. I have seen him again and again swoop at a dog, and 

 carry off a bone which he persuades the hungry brute to drop, by a 

 sharp application of his stout, pointed bill upon its muzzle. At times 

 I have expected to be attacked myself by the friends and relations of 

 the deceased, when, after half an hour's dance with St. Vitus to the 

 tune of some villanous old scout's croak, I disposed of the musician 

 by an ounce of shot. And if you wish to enjoy a fine display of fea- 

 thered viciousness, order your servant to climb up a tree full of crows, 

 and to rob the nearest nest. At such seasons it is as well to stand by 

 with a loaded gun or two, otherwise the sport might end in something 

 earnest to the featherless biped. 



"The reason of the row was soon explained. Gaetano had thought- 

 lessly left a half-plucked chicken preparing for my supper within sight 

 of a sentinal crow, whose beat was the bough of a neighbouring Neem 

 tree. In a moment it was pounced upon, seized, and carried off. On 

 one side all the comrades of the plunderer flocked together to share 

 in the spoils which he resolved to appropriate, and most violent was 

 the scene that ensued. On the other, up rushed the cook, the butler, 

 the khalassis, and all the horse-keepers, as excited as the crows, de- 

 termined to recover, with sticks and stones, the innocent cause of the 

 turmoil. c Send in for Khairu, the laghar,' said the ameer, in a whis- 

 pering voice to Kakoo, as if afraid of being overheard by some listen- 

 ing crow. He certainly thought that if he spoke loud the birds would 

 recognize the name, and really after some study of their idiosyncrasy, 

 I did not treat the precaution of his tone lightly. ^Esop had no ex- 

 perience in the character of the Indian ' Kak,'* otherwise he would 

 not have made the fox outwit the crow. 



" One of the attendants rose slowly from the ground, and looking 

 indifferently around him went off by a detour towards the palace. Pre- 

 sently appeared two men dressed in green, with a large sheet spread 

 between their shoulders so as to cover their near arms. Behind them 

 came the attendants, carrying a dozen pellet and other bows. The 



* " Kawla or kawwa, a crow." 



