54 crow. 



to the nape a broad black band ; the feathers of the crown elongated, 

 so as to form a crest at will ; quills dusky, with an obscure, gilded 

 gloss, and a few next the body have white tips ; lesser wing coverts 

 blue; the larger like the quills; tail cuneiform, and disposed in two 

 rows ; the feathers for two-thirds of the length blue, then marked 

 with white on the inner web, after that black on both webs, with 

 the tips white ; the two middle feathers rather pointed, have no black, 

 but the tips are white like the rest ; legs orange, the hind toe very 

 strong, and aimed with a much larger claw than the others. This 

 is the Shirgunge of the Bengalese and Musulmans ; and inhabits the 

 hills of Tipperah and Sylhet. It is said to be capable of instruction, 

 and may be taught to hunt like a Hawk, so as to catch small birds ; 

 besides a kind of chattering like a Jay or Magpie, it has an agree- 

 able note, and will become very tame. 



A. — Coracias Sinensis, Ind. Om. i. 171. Gm. Lin. i. 381. Daud. ii. 265. 

 Galgulus Sinensis, Bris. ii. 77. t. 6. f. 2. Id. 8vo. i. 175. 

 Corvus speciosus, Shatv's Zool. vii. 364. 

 Rolle de la Chine, Buf. iii. 132. PL enl. 620, 

 Chinese Roller, Gen. Syn. i. 414. 



Size of a Jay ; length eleven inches, breadth fifteen. Bill and 

 irides red ; head and upper part of the body green ; through the eyes 

 a black stripe ; under part of the body, from chin to vent yellowish 

 white, tinged with green ; thighs grey ; wing coverts olive brown ; 

 quills the same, with a mixture of chestnut in some, and those nearest 

 the body tipped with white ; tail five inches long, cuneiform, the 

 two middle feathers the colour of the baek, green without, and green- 

 ish white within, after that dusky ; and lastly, greenish white at the 

 tips ; legs pale red. — Such is the description given by Brisson, sup- 

 posing the bird to be a Roller ; but as the feathers fully cover the 

 nostrils, and the legs are longer than are usual, added to the great 

 similarity it bears to the Hunting Crow, we cannot but suppose it to 

 be a Variety of that bird. 



