CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 51 



near Falmer, every stone and stem of furze being 

 brought from tlie identical spot. 



GREY CROW. 



Case 60. 



Tliongli only a winter visitor to the southern parts of 

 the island, this bird may be found at all seasons in the 

 Highlands of Scotland. 



In the south it usually frequents the sea-coast, living 

 on the dead fish, or any decomposing remains that may 

 be cast up by the tide. I have often noticed Grey 

 Crows on the large broads in the east of Norfolk, 

 flying one after another over the litter that was washed 

 up on the lee shore, hunting for any dead or wounded 

 fowd that might have escaped from the gunners. 



As soon as a prize was discovered, the croaking and 

 screaming of those near at hand would soon bring the 

 whole of the black fraternity together, and, living or 

 dead, the unfortunate victim would speedily have its 

 flesh torn from its bones. 



In the winter of 1868 I was punt-gunning on Loch 

 Slyn, in Ross-shire, and having made a successful shot 

 at a large flock of Mallard, as they rose from a rough 

 bank, I w^as unable, owing to the long heather that 

 grew near the shores of the loch, to collect the whole 

 of the cripples, as some of the wounded birds crawled 

 into the thick cover before I could gather up those 

 nearest at hand. About an hour later, when on the 

 far side of the loch, I noticed several parties of Grey 

 Crows, numbering in all at least forty or fifty birds, 

 flying and quarrelling near the spot where I had fired 



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