NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 97 



another " did rae out " of some Red-breasted Merganser's eggs.* 

 I only saved one of the nest, and it had a perforation in the side, 

 almost as neatly formed as if done with an egg-drill. Such insults 

 offered by the tribe can only be wiped out in blood. 



Ohs. A gamekeeper told me that he once shot a Carrion Crow 

 {C. corone), in the west of the county, which for some two or 

 three years had frequented a certain rock in that district. It is 

 possible that he may have made some mistake, as, had it remained 

 so long, it would in all probability have paired with the Crey 

 Crow, and reared others of its own colour, f 



THE ROOK. 



COR V US FRUGILEGUS, Linnaeus. 



The only rookery in the west, that I am aware of, is that on an 

 island of Loch Cama, near Knockan and Elphin. This colony has 

 been established very lately, and I can quite well remember when 

 only some eight or ten pairs of Rooks built their nests on the low 

 birch trees which cover the island. In 1869 there were about 

 forty pairs breeding at this place. The nests are in most cases 

 not more than eight or ten feet from the ground, and some are 

 still lower. Not many years ago there was a Heronry here, but 

 it succumbed to the advance of the black invaders. There are, as 

 yet, no Rooks found breeding north of Loch Cama, or in other 

 words, between that and Cape Wrath, but eastwards it is a com- 

 mon species. In winter, large assemblages of Rooks gather on the 

 hills, when clear of snow, to feed on the mountain berries, 

 as also, (Mr Selby informs us) on the larvae of certain 

 insects. The next station on the west coast that the Rooks will 

 advance to, will probably be either in the neighbourhood of Loch 

 Inver, or at Loch Beannoch, Stoir, at which latter place there is a 



* As will be seen under " E,ed-breasted Merganser," the nests of this species 

 are often quite exposed, and not invariably concealed amongst stones, or under 

 roots of trees, as has been stated. 



f K we accept Mr Wallace's definition of the term " species," and it 

 certainly seems the most perfect, where can a more complete instance of 

 " dimorphism " be found in ornithology than in the interbreeding of the Black 

 and Grey Crows, which, as now well known, is of common occurrence in the 

 midland districts of Scotland, the progeny being, half of the young like one 

 parent, and half like the other? " Intercrossing," says Mr Wallace, " without 

 producing an intermediate race is a test of dimorphism." 

 VOL. IL G 



