The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-22
EyATURAL 1TTSTCAy.
From the London Wesleyan Magazine.
THE CEYLON CROW.

The name of this bird in Tanul is an evi
dent attempt to initiate the noise which 1t
makes, Kaaham, or aa-kai; and this at
tempt is often made by the Tamuller with
considerable success. The crow, in size,
resembles the English Jackdaw, but it is far
more cunning and useful. In Ceyion there
is perhaps no animal Of the same size that
is of equal Importance; wise and kind
Providence having evidently sent it to pre-
vent fever and disease. In such climate,
where putrid substances so soon talnt the
air, it's great value may, Ill some degree, be
appreciated, as it scarcely allows any i'm
pure substance to remain long on the ground;
and there is no animal, except its own spe-
cies, on which it will not prey. The crows of
Ceylon, instead, oft1king up their abodes in
| fields and woods, live in villages and towns,
aud are as familiar with us as common
soarrows are in England. In the jungle we
now and then see stragglcr, particularly IT
there be dead elephant or any other ami
nal near. There are few things which cx-
cite more of the attention of newly ar
rived Englishman than these birds, pcrched
on the doors or windows, or entering into
the houses in search of food. An English
sailor, who Is not very delicate about his
conduct in the streets, no sooner sees them
than he commences an attack /, but the crow
is far too active and cunning for him. 1t has
often been said, that certain number occu-
DIV as a kind of right, one PERSONS premises,
and know that one crow, with a broken
beas, was a daily visitor for more than
twelve months at the Mission House oi
Trincomalee. The natives OF Ceylon gen
orally carry their burdens on the head, thus
when they return from market with flsh,
rice, or fruit, they take stick In one hand
to keep off these impudent depredators, OF
they would have nothing left before they ar
rive at home Young chickens and ducks
are with them an easy prey they pounce
down upon them, and carry them oil IKE
hawk and there is nothing weaker than
themselves that they will not attack, and
If possible, destroy. In the wet season, there
are hundreds of frogs croaking on every
hand and these reptiles often come into the
house in great numbers: but to them alsc
the crow is formidable enemy. Wher
thc frog pcrceives his foe approaching, he
bloats himself with wind, and endcavour:
TO secure amongst the grass those part!
which are most pcnetrable; but the crow
hons round the victim, and every now ant
then rives peck until he has perforated the
skin; after this, the frog, by fruitless at
tennis to initiate himself, becomes exhausted
and the crow carries off his prey to the tol
of tree.
The instinct of this bird seems occasional
" ia border Oh reason as its actions are ap
parcntlv adapted to circumstances of an ac
cidental nature. If there be any plot sus
nectcd, an old crow lights upon the cave o
the varandah, puts his head SO tar down q.
, To be able to discover what is going forward
and if there be any thing new, any thing n
, cannot comprehend, the alarm is given, an
: they all betake themselves to place OF safe
: ty. 1t is truly amusing to see them ass's
! each other to get rid OF the insects whic
/ live in their down: one crow bows his heat
c and the other takes them out with his bill
+ | once remember to have seen some OF thes
: cunning creatures, greatly overreached' an
: IN way quite novel to them. gentlema
who had been preparing the skins OF som
e beautiful birds, In order to send them hom'
! ! after having deposited the necessary drug
u to preserve them from insects, placed the'
!, in the sun to dry. In the course OF an hou
f he returned, but his skins were gone'-Ih