2Q9 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
The crows here, as in every other part of India, are 
exceedingly impudent and troublesome ; and it is found 
very difficult to exclude them from the houses, which, on 
account of the heat, are built open and much exposed to 
such intruders. I have already mentioned some of the 
vexations I experienced from them while at Col umbo. They 
are so audacious, that, like the harpies of old, they will 
frequently snatch bread and meat from the dining table, 
even when it is surrounded with guests. In shape they 
exactly resemble our common crow, but in size are generally 
smaller. They abound in every town, fort, and village on 
the island : as if particularly addicted to the society of man, 
they are continually seen hopping about among the habita- 
tions, and are very rarely to be met with in woods or 
retired places. These animals, however, though so exceedingly 
troublesome, and continually on the watch to pick up every 
thing that comes within their reach, still are not to be con- 
sidered as an unnecessary pest entailed upon the inhabitants 
of that part of the globe. The crows, in fact, are very 
important benefactors to the Indians, and by their utility 
amply compensate for their troublesome knaveries. As they 
are all voracious devourers of carrion, and instantly eat up 
all sorts of dirt, offal, and dead vermin as soon as they 
appear; they carry off those substances which, if allowed to 
remain, would in this hot climate produce the most noxious 
smells, and probably give rise to putrid disorders. On this 
account the crows are much esteemed by the natives, 
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