100 ORNITHOT.OGICAL RAMBLES. 



for some time before the water is allowed to 

 return, and the stock-fish re-introduced. Then 

 indeed an ample and welcome feast is prepared 

 for the carrion crow, the bottom of the pond and 

 the banks above being literally studded with 

 the fresh-water mussel. I have never observed 

 so many carrion crows assembled together as on 

 such occasions, and the banquet lasts for several 

 days, until nothing remains but scattered fi^ag- 

 ments of the empty shells. 



On the approach of winter the carrion crow 

 retires from the wooded districts and proceeds to 

 the sea-coast, at a somewhat later period than 

 that at which the hooded crow {Gorvus comix) 

 arrives in this country from the north ; and the 

 partial distribution of these Corvidw at this sea- 

 son, involving, as it does, the local separation of 

 the two species, appears to me to be worthy of 

 observation. 



A few years since, while residing during the 

 winter near the sea in the western part of the 

 county, I noticed that the carrion crow was 

 common in the estuaries of Chichester harbour, 

 and along the whole line of shore from Selsey Bill 

 to Bognor, where I also met with the raven occa- 

 sionally at this season; but I never could detect 

 the occurrence of a single hooded crow within the 

 same limits. This struck me the more forcibly. 



