242 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



another male Carrion Crow, when both it and the young were 

 destroyed (Wilhamson's Scarborough Hst, 1836). At Langdon 

 in Bowland and in Craven the nests are frequently built in low 

 stunted bushes on the fells. The earliest reported eggs, a 

 clutch of five, were found near Beverley on loth April 1903. 



Of interesting Yorkshire varieties the first known example 

 was mentioned in a communication from Ralph Johnson, who, 

 writing to John Ray, from Brignall, near Greta Bridge, under 

 date 29th March 1672, said : " Honoured Sir, I have only 

 observed this change from proper colours to white .... 

 in Crows (Corvus corone), whereof there is one now in Cliffe 

 Wood, near Pierce Bridge " ("Correspondence of John Ray," 

 p. 96). Another white variety is recorded in the Field, 

 30th January 1875 ; and one is reported, on the authority of 

 Mr. Downs of Bolton Abbey, on Barden Fell in 1906. A 

 pecuharly plumaged bird was seen at Settle on 28th October 

 1885 ; it was of a light silvery grey colour, with a slightly 

 brindled appearance ; the head and throat darker than the 

 back and under surface, the tail and wings lighter, approach- 

 ing a dove colour. Yet another " sport " of a pearl grey hue 

 was observed in Ribblesdale in 1884 {Nat. 1896, p. 41). 



Regarding the folk-lore connected with this species there 

 will ever be an uncertainty as to whether the bird meant 

 was a Crow or a Rook, these two names being often used 

 indiscriminately, and the Rook superstitions may be read 

 conjointly with this ; but where the word " Daup " or 

 " Daupee " is given there can be no doubt the Carrion Crow 

 is meant. A saying illustrative of this is shewn in the Cleve- 

 land dialect : " Ther's bound for tae be a lot o' Rooks ti' 

 year, t' Craws is building Strang, an' wa's seean hae t' Daupees 

 at wark." Here we see the distinction drawn ; Rook and 

 Crow apply to the same bird, but the Carrion Crow (Daupee) 

 builds after the first-named have finished their nests. Like 

 its larger relative, the Raven, it is deemed to be a bird of 

 ill-omen, and the country children in some parts cry out at 

 its appearance : — 



" Crow, Crow, get out of my sight, 

 Or else I'll eat thy liver and lights." 



