Chap. VIII.] 
CROWS. 
255 
the moment when his head was turned to carry off the 
knife. 
One of these ingenious marauders, after vainly atti- 
tudinising in front of a chained watch-dog, that was 
lazily gnawing a bone, and after fruitlessly endeavouring 
to divert his attention by dancing before him, with 
head awry and eye askance, at length flew away for 
a moment, and returned bringing a companion which 
perched itself on a branch a few yards in the rear. The 
crow's grimaces were now actively renewed, but with no 
better success, till its confederate, poising itself on its 
wings, descended with the utmost velocity, striking the 
dog upon the spine with all the force of its strong beak. 
The ruse was successful ; the dog started with surprise 
and pain, but not quickly enough to seize his assailant, 
whilst the bone he had been gnawing was snatched away 
by the first crow the instant his head was turned. Two 
well-authenticated instances of the recurrence of this 
device came within my knowledge at Colombo, and 
attest the sagacity and powers of communication and 
combination possessed by these astute and courageous 
birds. 
On the approach of evening the crows near Colombo 
assemble in noisy groups along the margin of the fresh- 
water lake which surrounds the fort on the eastern side; 
and here for an hour or two they enjoy the luxury of 
throwing the water over their shining backs, and arrang- 
ing their plumage decorously, after which they disperse, 
each taking the direction of his accustomed quarters for 
the night. 1 
■ 1 A similar habit has been no- daily resort at the same hour to 
ticed in the damask Parrots of their accustomed pools to bathe. 
Africa {Palceornis fuscus), which 
