CARRION CROW, 7I7 



for the night ; and it is in consequence of their feeding in 

 silence that we do not notice them so late in the evenino^. I 

 know the loud croak of this bird may be heard in wooded 

 countries, but am persuaded it feeds where and when 



' The beetle homeward wheels her droning flight, 

 And drowsy tinklings lull the distant fold.' 



" The Carrion Crow does not cover her eggs when she leaves 

 the nest, after the manner described by some ornithologists ; at 

 least I have never been able to discover that habit in this bird, 

 and I think I should have done so had it existed. When I 

 was a boy, I have not only been up to the nest of the Carrion 

 Crow, but have plundered some scores, and when farther ad- 

 vanced in life I have peeped into many, to gratify my curi- 

 osity. I can speak of the eggs being very subject to variety in 

 colour, and also in shape, so that a person not aware of this, 

 might, on seeing some, be doubtful as to whether they belonged 

 to the Carrion Crow or the Rook. It sometimes has young 

 late in the season, even in September. Thus, on the 9th Oc- 

 tober 1839, I saw four young ones just fledged at Foxton, in 

 this county. They could have left the nest only a few days, 

 as they were not thoroughly strong upon the wing, when I saw 

 them. Indeed Mr Stain assured me they were bred in an elm 

 tree, in one of his hedge-rows. The old birds were feeding 

 there when I saw them." 



CORVUS CORNIX. THE HOODED CROW. Yol. I, p. 529. 



In my account of the habits of this species, I alluded to the 

 alleged conventions said by Mr Low and others to take place, 

 but of which I had not seen any example. Dr Edmondston, 

 in the following notice, describes them as observed by himself 

 in Shetland. 



" The Plooded Crow remains with us throughout the year. 

 It breeds on cliffs always easily accessible, and produces an- 

 nually four and sometimes five young. It is easily tamed, and 

 is lively and familiar, but from the inveterate habit of conceal- 



