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HINDU ZOOLOGICAL BELIEFS. 

 By W. Bae Shekkiffs, 



Professor of Zoology, Madras Christian College. 

 (Concluded from p. 259.) 



Bieds. — Commonest of all Indian birds is the Crow, which, 

 in Madras, at any rate, is considered to at least equal the human 

 population in number. As everyone knows, this wily bird 

 always looks askance, and the Brahmin Crow (Corvus splendens) 

 is thus believed to have only one eyeball, which, however, 

 can move at will into either socket. To account for this 

 remarkable ocular phenomenon the following tale is related : 



One day, when Bama and Sita were exiles in the forest, Bama 

 lay asleep with his head on Sita's lap, when a Crow, who was 

 really Indra's son Jayantha, jealous of the sight, came and 

 pecked at Sita's breast till it bled. Sita loved Bama so much 

 that she would not move lest she should wake her lord. Shortly 

 after, a drop of warm blood from the wound fell on Bama's face. 

 He at once woke up, and, recognising the Crow, shot an arrow at 

 him. Off flew the Crow, with the vengeful shaft in full pursuit ; 

 and the Crow in despair implored all the deities to save him, 

 but in vain. Back he had to fly to Bama, and humbly ask for 

 pardon, which was readily granted, but on one condition. " My 

 arrow," said Bama, "must find its mark." This it did by 

 removing one of the Crow's eyeballs. Yet for all that, the bird 

 suffers little inconvenience, because the remaining eyeball can 

 shift as required from the one orbit to the other. 



The Crow is the vehicle of Saturn, who acts adversely upon 

 everyone's life for a period of seven and a half years. Both 

 these are worshipped by all every Saturday. 



If a Crow takes up its position on the roof of your house and 

 caws incessantly, then you know that a guest will arrive soon. 

 In order to ascertain the nature of the expected visitor you say 

 to the Crow, "If it is a friend who is coming to see us, then 

 walk up and down, but if it is only another Crow that is to 



