CARRION-CROW. 21 



reverse when the flight is horizontal. Some observers believe 

 that the wings are closed and that a complete turn is made 

 without losing elevation, but when I have seen the performance 

 the wings were not apparently shut tightly to the sides ; the 

 bird turned belly upwards and shot forward with its own 

 momentum, quickly recovering its normal position. Rolling is 

 not confined to the breeding season, and is occasionally 

 employed when the bird is attacked by a falcon. My friend 

 Dr. W. B. Russell watched the courtship antics of a pair in 

 North Wales. After aerial play, soaring and rolling, the male 

 followed the female to the nest, uttering a "vibrating nuptial 

 call " quite distinct from its sharp bark. There he caressed her, 

 stroking her bill with his, and, when she raised her head, 

 tickling her affectionately under the chin ; then both birds 

 opened their mandibles and pretended to bite ; a lengthy 

 " Raven's kiss.'' 



The Raven is shy and cautious rather than cowardly, and 

 will drive Gulls from the vicinity of its nest and spar with the 

 passing Peregrine ; yet I have seen it swerve from the assault 

 of a Kestrel and heard it cry in alarm when boldly attacked by 

 a pair of Lapwings. 



The plumage, legs, feet and beak are black, most of the 

 feathers glossed with blue or green. The bill is curved and 

 decidedly hooked ; the irides are dark brown. The sexes are 

 alike ; the young are duller. Length, 25 to 27 ins. Wing, 1575 

 to 17 ins. Tarsus, 2*6 to 3 ins. 



Carrion-Crow. Corvus corojie Linn. 



In general appearance and many of its habits the Carrion- 

 Crow (Plate 4) is a lesser Raven, but with a slighter, less 

 curved and smaller hooked beak. Throughout England, Wales 

 and southern Scotland it is resident, and in spite of its 



