Zbc IRe^^^billet) (Tbougb. 



Pyrrhocorax graculus. 

 By C. CASTLE-StOANE, F.Z.S., M.R.Z.S.I., F.R.S.P.B. 



THE entire plumage of this bird is a shining black 

 with a dull blue gloss over it, the legs and beak 

 a lovely coral red ; total length about 15 inches, 

 wing lof inches, tail 5^ inches. 

 The sexes are alike in colouring, the female being 

 slightly the smaller of the two. The young birds 

 attain their full plumage at the end of the second 

 year: before this their beaks are of a dull yellow 

 colour. 



It builds in most inaccessible places, seeking out 

 the steepest parts of the cliffs, and the nest is often at 

 the end of a cleft with several turnings, and is com- 

 posed of sticks, roots, and dry grass, lined with wool 

 and grass. The eggs are four or five in number, of a 

 yellowish white spotted with ash grey, purple, or 

 light brown. Size about i^ ins. by i ins. 



The Chough feeds on insects and grain of various 

 sorts, berries, and some kind of small shell-fish which 

 it picks up on the shore. 



That it is getting scarce is sadly true : this fact 

 has been observed in the West of Ireland, the South 

 of England, and Scotland. There are many reasons 

 given for its diminishing numbers: 



" Some say it is the Jackdaws, 

 And others they say " Nay, 

 It's just the man who's got a gun 

 And likes to blaze away." 



I am glad to see these birds are included in the 

 Wild Birds Protection Act 1880. This bird appears 

 in the Schedule which applies to every County in 

 England, Scotland, and Ireland. Any owner, occu- 

 pier, or other person taking, killing etc. a Chough 

 during the close season (generally from ist March to 



