720 APPENDIX. 



their nests. They were built upon the tops of high old Scotch 

 fir trees. The outside was formed of twigs ; upon these was 

 placed a layer of the fine roots of trees, then about two inches 

 of earth or clay intermixed with decayed leaves, and lined in 

 the inside with wool, hair, and other soft materials. Of all 

 the birds which I have attempted to gin or shoot, they are I 

 think the most cunning. About four years ago, I found great 

 difficulty in destroying a pair of them whilst feeding their young. 

 For this purpose I constructed several huts with the branches 

 of trees, within shot of their nest ; but I was obliged to pull 

 them down, as the birds would not feed their brood so long as 

 they remained. I however discovered a plan by which I suc- 

 ceeded in carrying my purpose into effect. Having made ano- 

 ther place of concealment about two feet in height, and covered 

 it over with grass and moss resembling as nearly as possible 

 the ground around it, I crept into it, and whilst lying upon my 

 side, I accomplished my object by shooting both the parent 

 birds. 



" The attachment of the mother to her brood and partner is 

 indeed very strong. I once fired at a female, when giving 

 food to her young, and although three pellets of large shot pe- 

 netrated her neck, in the course of a few hours she returned to 

 her charge. As I could not, however, get a right view of the 

 old birds, owing to the branches about the nest, I tied a cat 

 next morning to the bottom of the tree upon which it was built, 

 and by this stratagem I succeeded in destroying them. Whilst 

 they were setting up a most dismal croaking, and flying up and 

 down in a state of great irritation, within a few feet of their 

 enemy the cat, I shot at the male and killed him. The next 

 moment, when the old fellow was lying upon his back, in the 

 agonies of death, his loving partner walked again and again 

 round about him, dragging her wings and tail slowly upon the 

 ground, uttering the most melancholy lamentations, as if aware 

 of his fate. I completed the tragedy by shooting the survivor, 

 and any qualms of conscience I might have at the time, were 

 speedily smothered in the consciousness of having secured two 

 good specimens of the Hooded Crow, and the recollection of 

 their havoc amongst the game in my neighbourhood." 



