EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 225 



almost spotless, or merely marked with a few yellowish-brown 

 dashes. They vary in length from 1'8 to 1'5 inch, and in breadth 

 from 1*3 to 1*1 inch. It is impossible to distinguish the eggs of 

 the Carrion Crow from those of the Hooded Crow ; but the eggs 

 of both these birds are generally larger than those of the Rook 

 and smaller than those of the Raven. 



THE HOODED CROW. 

 (Corvus comix.) 



Plate 55, Fig. 5. 



The Hooded Crow is a migratory bird in the northern portion 

 of its range. Although it is a permanent resident in Scotland, 

 great numbers of the Scandinavian birds migrate to Holland, 

 Belgium and Northern France, and even to England, to winter. 



The nest is composed of almost every material which can be 

 applied to the architect's purpose. Large sticks and twigs, stalks 

 of heather, bones, moss, turf, wool and feathers are all used. 

 From the fact that the bird returns to its old habitations year 

 after year, many nests are very bulky structures, and the greater 

 part of the outside material is bleached by the weather. The 

 inside is smooth, soft and compact, and rather deep. 



The eggs of the Hooded Crow are four or five in number, and 

 are absolutely indistinguishable in size and colour from those of 

 the Carrion Crow. They exhibit precisely similar types and 

 variations as the eggs of that bird, rendering a description of 

 them unnecessary. 



THE ROOK. 

 (Coruus frugilegus.)* 



Plate 55, Fig. 11. 



The Rook is found commonly in most parts of England and 

 Wales, as well as of Ireland, wherever the country is not too 

 barren to afford it a pasture and a nesting-place. It breeds 

 throughout Central and Southern Europe as far north in Scan- 

 dinavia as the Arctic circle, but in Russia and in West Siberia 

 only up to lat. 64°. 



* Trypanocorax frugilegus — Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 4. 



