292 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



opinion, that in his neighbourhood the chough was much oftener 

 seen some years ago than it is now; indeed, he believes that at 

 present there are only one or two pairs. The Eev. Thomas B. 

 Bell of Leswalt, Wigtownshire, in a communication made some 

 years ago to the Eoyal Physical Society of Edinburgh, says that 

 the chough "annoys the farmers b)^ digging up the sprouting 

 wheat and tearing off the roofs of their stacks." 



The Eaven (Corvus corax). 

 Now greatly thinned, being greatly and justly disliked by the 

 sheep farmer, on whose lands it commits its worst depredations. 

 Notwithstanding the rigorous persecution to which it is subjected, 

 the raven seems even yet in less danger of total extirpation than 

 many other birds whose lives are in constant danger. The best 

 time to shoot the vagabond is at dusk, when he and his mate are 

 returning from a day's foray to their favourite roosting place. The 

 following lines are taken from an address to the bird, probably 

 written by some half-poetical and watchful keeper, in the prospect 

 of a revengeful shot : — 



" Say, weary bird, whose level flight, 

 Thus, at the dusky hour of night. 



Wends through the midway air — 

 Why yet beyond the verge of day 

 Is lengthened out thy dark delay. 



Adding another to the hours of care ? " 



The Carrion Crow {Corvus corone). 

 Not common, but seen occasionally in autumn frequenting the 

 sea-shore, sometimes in company with the Hooded Crow. Hoody 

 Craw is the name given to this bird in most parts of Scotland. 



The Hooded Crow {Corvus comix). 

 About ecpial in numbers with the preceding bird, but both are 

 well kept down by the game preservers. As the two birds are 

 perfectly identical in form, size, habits, and general mode of living, 

 and are known to breed freehj together in the middle districts of 

 Scotland, it is difficult to believe in any specific distinction between 

 them. The grey-backed bird is believed by Mr Gray to belong to 

 a northern race of the carrion crow, and it has been ascertained 

 that the boundary line where the two unite stretches from Argyle- 

 shire through Perthsliire and Forfarshire. In the Outer Hebrides 



