244 CARRION-CROW. 



reported existence near Archangel is open to question, and in the 

 interior of Russia it is decidedly uncommon, though frequent in 

 the Caucasus, the Black Sea district, the valley of the Danube, 

 Greece, and Southern Germany. It rarely visits Heligoland. In 

 Northern Ciermany its eastern summer-limits are approximately 

 indicated by the valley of the Elbe ; while to the west and south 

 it is found breeding as far as the Mediterranean coast of France, 

 the Spanish Peninsula, Northern Italy, Corsica and Sardinia. In 

 Asia, it nests in Turkestan and Kashmir, while in Western Siberia 

 it meets and interbreeds freely with the Hooded Crow ; again pre- 

 vailing, as a larger form, in the forest district between the Yenesei 

 and the Pacific, as well as in Northern China and Japan. The 

 occurrence of our Carrion-Crow in North Africa is doubtful, but 

 visits to Madeira are recorded. 



This species seldom makes its nest before the first week in April, 

 generally selecting for the purpose some moderately tall tree which 

 affords a good look-out, or a ledge of rock ; but it will also build in 

 a low bush, and even on the ground. The structure is composed 

 of sticks, fine twigs &c., with a warm lining of wool and other soft 

 materials ; the eggs, usually 4-5 in number, are bluish-green, spotted 

 and blotched with olive-brown : measurements I'y by i'2 in. The 

 Carrion- Crow probably pairs for life, and is generally to be seen in 

 couples, quartering the ground carefully, with somewhat heavy 

 flight, in quest of food. Carrion, poultry, the eggs of game and 

 water-fowl, leverets, moles, rats, fish, mussels and the refuse of the 

 shore — nothing comes amiss to it ; but it will also eat insects, 

 grubs, grain and fruit, like the Rook, and I have seen it on the hill- 

 sides in the Pyrenees as well as in Switzerland in considerable 

 flocks. Its ordinary note is a hoarse croak, but it sometimes emits 

 sounds which may almost be called musical ; while in confinement 

 it develops some capacity for imitation. 



The adult male has the entire plumage black, glossed on the upper 

 parts with purple and tinged with green on the head, neck and 

 throat ; the nostrils are covered with thick bristly feathers, directed 

 forwards; bill, legs and feet black. Length 19 in.; wing 13 in. 

 The female is less glossy, and has sometimes a brown tinge on her 

 plumage. The young bird is still duller in colour. The inside of 

 the mouth is always pale flesh-colour : whereas in the young Rook 

 it is dark flesh-colour, soon turning livid and afterwards slate-colour. 

 The Rev. H. A. Macpherson has recorded a bird of a reddish- fawn 

 colour, the rest of the brood being normal ; and Mr. ^V. Eagle 

 Clarke has described a brindled-grey variety. 



