1 903 Our Common Wild Birds 3 1 5 



which is a bird of solitary habit. If we look carefully at 

 the birds in the rookery we shall see that they are entirely 

 black, excepting for the bare grey warty skin about their faces, 

 and this is the easiest means of distinguishing the rook 

 from 



The Carrion Crow (C. coronc), which rarely or never 

 comes into towns nor associates in flocks, but haunts the 

 wilder parts of the country, chiefly wooded hillsides, cliffs, 

 and ravines, where it is generally to be seen singly or in 

 pairs. The base of the beak and the entire face of this 

 bird is black, otherwise the two species are very similar, but 

 a naturalist soon notes a difference in the voice, the notes 

 of the crow being harsher. The rook calls " caw," the 

 crow " cah." 



The Hooded Crow {C. corui.v), a resident in Scotland 

 and Ireland, only visits England in winter, and is even then 

 there chiefly confined to the eastern counties. In size and 

 habits, though not such a shy bird, it is the counterpart of 

 the last-named, except for the plumage of its back and under 

 parts being ash grey. There is no possibility of mistaking 

 it for any other British bird. 



The Jackdaw (C. moneduld) is distinctly smaller than 

 his relatives, the last three birds, and is entirely black, 

 excepting the nape of the neck, which is ash grey. His 

 acquaintance is generally very soon made, for he is on most 

 friendly terms with the rooks, commonly associating with 

 them in their rookeries, flying with and feeding with them 

 in the fields, where his smaller size and quicker movement 

 of the wings further help us to identify him when seen at a 

 distance. An abundant bird in most districts, he frequents 

 church towers, and other tall buildings and cliffs. He is a 

 chattering, lively bird, constantly calling " chack-ah, chack-a.h, 

 chack-ah " to his mates, and sometimes a deeper " chah-h-h." 



The Jay {Garrulus glandarius) is about the size of the 

 jackdaw, and is fairly common in many woods and thick- 

 copses, where, before we see the bird, we may often hear 

 his harsh screaming note — " scrark, scrark." Following the 

 sound, we catch a glimpse of a bird showing much more 

 bright colour than most British species. The large patch of 

 ivliitc on the rump, conspicuous as the bird flies, will 



