238 CORVID^. 



ancient times used as a common appellation of all tlie 

 members of the family Corvidse which have black plumage, 

 this one being distinguished as the "Cornish Chough," 

 from the rocky district which it frequented. The famous 

 lines in " Eling Lear," — 



" The Crows and Choughs that wing the midway air 

 Show scarce so gross as beetles : " 



point probably to the Jackdaw, which is abundant on 

 the rocky coast of Kent, where the Chough has not 

 been observed, though there is a traditional account of a 

 pair which many years ago escaped from confinement and 

 bred there. By its flight it is scarcely to be distinguished 

 from the Jackdaw; but if it comes near enough to the 

 observer to betray the vermilion colour of its legs, it may 

 be known at once, and, seen on the ground, its long curved 

 biU, and more slender form, sufficiently distinguish it from 

 all others to which it assimilates in coloui* and size. 



l^ot many years since, the Chough was far from un- 

 common in several parts of the coast of Devon and 

 Cornwall. It is now much less frequent, though it still 

 lingers about the Lizard in the latter county, and is said to 

 breed in the high clifi"s near Combe Martin in Devonshii-e, 

 in both of which places I have often looked out sharply 

 for it, but have never been quite satisfied that I have 

 seen one. It is said also to haunt the precipitous coast 

 of several other parts of Great Britain, and to be found 

 also in many parts of Ireland, but always preferring the 

 least frequented localities. The peculiar habits of a bird 

 so uncommon and secluded are little known, so far at least 

 as they are characteristic of the bird in its wild state. In 

 captivity its ways differ little from those of the rest of 

 its tribe. It is inquisitive, intrusive, captious in temper, 

 disposed to become attached to those who treat it weU, 

 fond of attracting notice ; in a word, it surpasses in intelli- 

 gence most other tribes of birds, ranking among those 



