590 



PERCHING BIRDS 



each of which has a separate nesting-haunt (as indeed is commonly 

 the case), crows sometimes collect in companies in rook-fashion. The 

 nest is generally placed in a tree standing by itself, but may be built 

 on a cliff, or, in very rare instances, on the ground. The eggs, of 

 which from three to six go to a clutch, are usually laid in April, and 

 are said to have a bluer ground than those of the grey crow. 



Crows are terrible enemies to young birds and eggs of all kinds. 

 From the fact that large numbers of broken egg-shells are to be met 

 with on the shores of many Scotch lakes, it has been inferred that 

 crows prefer to enjoy their booty by the water-side ; but when they 

 have young of their own, the stolen eggs are carried to the nest. 



Grey Crow '^^^ g^'^y* hooded, or Royston crow (the Corone 



(Corvus eornix) ''^^'''^^-i' o^ some authors) is broadly distinguished 



from the other British representatives of the group 



by the fact that while the head, throat, fore part of the neck, wings. 



GKl.V CKOW. 



tail, and the feathers on the legs are black, the remainder of the 

 plumage is ashy grey. No difference in the colouring of the two 

 sexes is noticeable, but young birds arc of a duller tone than their 

 parents. 



As the relationship of this species, or race, to the ordinary crow 

 and its distribution have been already discussed, while the general 

 habits of the two birds are identical, little more need be stated in 

 regard to the present species. It may be mentioned, however, that 



