HUNTING CISSA . — Cissa Sinensis. 
When in full plumage, living, and in good condition, the Hunting Cissa is 
certainly the most lovely of all the Crow tribe, but unfortunately the tints of its 
feathers are so exceedingly delicate, that they fade by the action of light even 
while the bird is living, and after its death are comparatively dull. Only for a 
day or two after moulting does the Hunting Cissa show itself in its true colours. 
It is a brisk and lively bird, and like many others of the same group, is much 
given to imitating other birds, performing its mimicry with wonderful truth, and 
copying not only their voices, but even their peculiar gestures. 
It is much more carnivorous in its tastes than would be imagined from an 
inspection of its form and plumage, and it possesses many of the habits of the 
shrikes, not only killing and eating the smaller birds, but hanging its food upon 
branches in true shrike fashion. It is an excellent hunter, and as it can be easily 
tamed and taught to hunt after small birds for the amusement of its owner, it has 
earned the name of Hunting Crow. In its native country it is very commonly 
kept in captivity, and even in England has lived for a considerable time in a cage 
in the gardens of the Zoological Society. The voice of the Hunting Cissa is loud 
and screeching. 
The colour of this bird is bright grass-green, taking a yellowish tinge on the 
under parts of the body: Its wing is chestnut, mottled with black and white, 
and the tail is green, black, and white. 
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