Corvus pusillus Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 622; Grant
and Whitehead, Ibis (1898), 234, pl. 6, fig. 5 (egg); Whitehead,
Ibis (1899), 100 (habits); McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 110.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead,
McGregor); Palawan (Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult.--Entirely black, faintly glossed with purple; bases of many
of the feathers drab-gray or white; gloss on alula, primaries, and
primary-coverts dark green. A male from Mindoro measures: Wing, 250;
tail, 135; culmen from base, 50; bill from nostril, 37; depth of bill
at nostril, 18; tarsus, 44. A female from Mindoro, wing, 240; tail,
145; culmen from base, 50; tarsus, 46.
Steere collected a single egg of this species in Mindoro in June,
1888. The egg, taken from the oviduct of female, is thus described:
"Shape ovate, rather rounded towards the smaller end. Ground-color
pale greenish white, finely spotted and dotted over the entire shell
with greenish brown and pale lavender. Measurements 38 mm. by 26
mm." (Grant and Whitehead.)
"The little crow is very common in Mindoro; much rarer in Palawan
and the Calamianes Islands. Unlike Corone philippina, it is a very
shy bird. Its note sounds like that of an overgrown 'katy-did.' Iris
dark brown; legs, feet, nails, and bill black. A male from Culion
measures, 381 in length; wing, 243; tail, 136; culmen, 50; tarsus,
46; middle toe with claw, 45. A female from Palawan, length, 368;
wing, 237; tail, 137; culmen, 47; tarsus, 39; middle toe with claw,
43." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)