CROWS.
Corneille FE. I Cantare, IT.
Krahen, . . GER. Kaka,. SANSIC., TASI.
Kowa, . . . . HIND. CillrY0,1larra, . . Sr.
Conostoma cemodium, one of the Rasorial Crows, of the sub-family Glaucopinte, inhabits the northern region of Nepal, and in Celebes; and on the Malabar coast black and white crows occur, also occasional albinos. The crow is reckoned a binl of ill-omen in India ; still Malabar women are sometimes named Kaka, the name in that dialect, as well Cl3 ill Sanskrit, for the crow. The females of Malabar are, more than others, called after animals. Mani, the crocodile, is a name among them. In Christian countries, Barbara, Ursula,— Barbarian and Little Bear,—are not unusual. The crows incubate chiefly in March and April. The common crow of India is of unwonted familiarity, impudence, and matchless audacity. Mr. Sirr mentions a crow seizing bread from a toast-rack, and another taking food from a dog while eating. Sir James E. Tennant mentions that one of these ingenious marauders, after vainly attitudinizing in front of a chained watch-dog, that was lazily gnawing a bone, and after fruitlessly endeavour ing 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 dog started with surprise and pain, and the bone he had been gnawing was snatched away by the first crow the instant his head was turned. The Corvus culminatus, or large black crow of India, may be constantly observed wher ever there are buffaloes, perched on their backs, and engaged, in company with the small minah (Acridotheres tristis), in freeing them from ticks. —Tennant's Ceylon ; Sirr's Ceylon. See Corvidln.