262 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



inlund; iind in this respect seems to differ considerably from the birds on the continent, 

 where Alpine inland districts are in part inhabited by them. In Britain, the rocky 

 coasts of Devon and Cornwall, various parts of Wales, and some of the adjacent isles, are 

 its southern localities ; in Scotland, Ht. Abb's Head on the eastern side, and the shores of 

 Wigtonshire and Galloway on the western, are frequented ; and wo learn that it has 

 reached even the Hebrides. In Ireland, J\[r. Thompson writes, " the chough frequents 

 the sea-coast chiefly, and occurs in certain localities in the north, south, and east of Ireland." 

 But that part where it ajjpears to be most abundant is the Isle of Man, an island of 

 considerable extent, and ha^•ing precipitous coasts for at least two-thirds of its circum- 

 ference. Bound these shores it is so connnon, that nearly thii'ty specimens were once 

 procured in a forenoon. The habits of the bird, as well as the flight and manner of 

 alighting among the rocks and fissures, very considerably resemble those of the jackdaw, 

 so much so, that when Mudie first enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing this bird on a part 

 of the mainland where they were not so frequent, he mistook their flight for that of the 

 last-named bird, and missed some opportunities of procuring what he then considered a 

 very rare bird ; a glimpse of their red legs first undeceived him. "During the breeding 

 season," he says " when we have chiefly seen these birds, we found them almost constantly 

 on the coast, near the caves and fissures where the nests were placed ; and they wore very 

 seldom seen more than a quarter of a mile inland, but they made excursions so far, 

 alighting among the rocky parts of the upland sheep-pasture, and occasionally feeding 

 and walking on the dry pastiu'e itself, where they appeared to procure insects, their 

 stomachs being chiefly at this time fiUed with coleoptera. It is also said to feed on 

 grains and berries ; and we are not aware of any jjarticular food aflbrdcd by the roclcy 

 British coasts, which in that country so peculiarly attracts them to such localities, while 

 on the continent the Alpine ranges on the borders of the snow-lines are their usual 

 haunts." 



When the situation of the nests was approached, no great restlessness or anxiety was 

 exliibited. They were placed in rents of the rocks, in the entrances of the caves, or in 

 overhanging ledges of rock, built much in the same manner as those of the true crows. 

 The eggs, from five to seven in nvunber, are of a vcrditer or bluish-green, spotted and 

 blotched with blackish-brown, some specimens nearly resembling those of the jackdaw, 

 and apparently subject to nearly the same variation. 



This beautiful sjiecies is entirely of a deep glossy black above, with steel blue and 

 green reflexions ; the plumage on the head and neck is rather loose and tinted with purple ; 

 underneath, it is of a deep and uniform tint with less lustre. The bill is of a brilliant 

 Vermillion red, strong, bending for tlie whole length, and \\ithout any trace of a notcli ; 

 the plumes covering the nostrils are close and stiff', and appear as if rounded off' with 

 scissors on the bill. The legs and feet are of the same brilliant tint with the bill, and arc 

 strongly formed ; the claws brownish-black, crooked and strong ; the development of tlio 

 wings and tail large and powerful, the flight consequently light and buoyant ; the 

 length about fifteen inches. The bill and legs of the young do not show for somo 

 time the brilliant red colour. 



One of these birds was kept by Colonel Montague in his garden for some years, and of 

 it he has given the following interesting account. " His curiosity is beyond bounds, 

 never failing to examine anything new to liim. If the gardener is pruning, he examines 

 the nail-box, carries off the nails, and scatters the shreds about. Should a ladder be left 

 against the wall, he instantly mounts, and goes all round the top of the wall ; and, if 

 hungry, descends at a convenient place, and innnediately travels to the kitchen window, 

 where he makes an incessant knocking with his bill till be is fed and let in ; il' allowed 

 to enter, bis first endeavour is to get up-stairs ; and, if not interrupted, goes as liigli as 

 he can, and gets into my room in the attic story : but his intention is to get ujwn the 



