I20 OUR RARER BIRDS 



and scratch out the seed, even ^vhilst the poor peasant is at 

 work a few yards away. Then they are great egg-stealers, 

 ever beating along the face of the ocean cliffs where the sea- 

 birds breed, to carry off the eggs or even the helpless young. 

 In some of these marauding expeditions the Hooded Crow 

 comes off second best, and has to beat a hurried retreat from 

 the enraged Gulls whose nests he has been plundering. 



In its habits the Hooded Crow is more gregarious than 

 the Carrion Crow, and may be seen in flocks and parties 

 throughout the year. It feeds on all kinds of substances, and 

 pokes and pries about in all kinds of places to find them. On 

 the shore it may often be seen feeding on shellfish, or on any 

 carrion that may be cast up by the waves ; inland it frequents 

 the pastures and the newly-sown fields, where it lives on 

 similar food to the Eook ; whilst in all parts of its varied 

 haunts it is ever ready to murder any bird or animal smaller 

 or less powerful than itself. Gamekeepers are ever on the 

 watch to shoot, poison, or trap the Hoodie, for he wages an 

 endless war on the preserves ; and farmers equally detest 

 him because of his misdeeds amongst the poultry, the growing 

 crops, and the lambs. There can be little doubt, however, 

 that in spring and autumn the Hooded Crow rids the pastures 

 and fields of countless noxious insects and grubs. 



The note of the Hooded Crow is a hoarse era, sometimes 

 modulated and drawn out into carruck ; and in the pairing 

 season he not unfrequently utters more musical sounds as he 

 opens and closes his wings, spreads out his tail, and performs 

 various evolutions in the air to attract or charm his mate. 

 Hooded Crows do not differ in their flight from Carrion 

 Crows and Eooks, — they pass through the air on the same 

 regular and steady beat of wing, but they are capable of 

 turning and twisting with great speed when they are pursuing 

 a small bird, or buffeting each other as they often do in mid-air. 

 Hooded Crows pair for life, but they are rather late 



