HOODED CROW. 533 



In districts frequented by it, you commonly find it along the 

 shore, sometimes among the rocks, searching for crabs and 

 shellfish, which it has sagacity enough, when it cannot other- 

 wise open them, to raise in the air and drop to the ground ; 

 sometimes on the sandy beach, especially if fish or echini have 

 been cast up. The latter are so frequently devoured by them 

 in the Hebrides that they have obtained the name of Hooded 

 Crow's Cups — cragan-feannaig. Gulls, even the strongest, rarely 

 dispute with them on such occasions, but impatiently walk 

 about until they choose to fly off. 



Although familiar enough with this species, I have never 

 observed it mount high into the air like the raven, for the pur- 

 pose of sailing. Nor does it scour the hill tops and sides in the 

 same free and bold manner, but rather has a skulking habit, 

 and prefers remaining on the lower grounds, especially in the 

 vicinity of water, whether fresh or salt. It searches the moors, 

 however, for eggs and young birds, and commits considerable 

 depredations upon those of the Golden Plover and Red Grouse. 

 The eggs of Gulls and Terns it does not venture to seize upon, 

 knowing that these birds would join in attacking any intruder. 



It is said by some to assemble at times in very large flocks, 

 apparently for the purpose of settling some important matter 

 referring to their mutual benefit ; but I have not observed any 

 such conventions, and am disposed to consider them as merely 

 imaginary. Nor is it necessary that they should have assem- 

 blies for the purpose of choosing partners, for, according to my 

 observation, they remain paired all the year, and the young 

 individuals can easily meet without having a general convoca- 

 tion. Several authors talk of their building in trees ; but I 

 have never seen a Hooded Crow's nest elsewhere than on a 

 rock, and generally by the sea. It is large, composed of twigs, 

 sea-weeds, heath, feathers, and straws, being similar to that of 

 the Carrion Crow and Raven. The eggs, from four to six or 

 seven in number, but generally five, are of a regular ovate 

 form, from an inch and a half to an inch and eight twelfths 

 long, and about one and a twelfth across ; of a pale bluish- 

 green tint, marked all over, but more thickly at the large end, 

 with oblong and roundish spots of greenish-brown and pale 



