172 - The Carru)N-Cro\v 



In Great Britain this species is justly disliked and persecuted, both by 

 shepherds and game-keepers ; yet it is still by no means rare in the well-timbered 

 portions of England and Wales, becoming, however, decidedly commoner in the 

 northern counties, whilst in Scotland it is abundant ; in the islands off the 

 Scotch coast it again becomes scarce and it is doubtful whether it really occurs 

 in the Orkneys or Shetlands. In Ireland it is a very scarce bird. 



The male Carrion-Crow is glossy black ; purplish above, and with green 

 tints on the head and neck ; the wings similarly tinted ; bill and feet black ; 

 iris brown. The female is perhaps slightly less glossy than the male, but does 

 not otherwise differ in plumage ; her bill ajipears to be longer and more slender 

 than that of the male, which is unusual in the Crows. Young birds are without 

 gloss and the inside of their mouths is pale flesh-coloured. 



As opposed to the absurd notion that because this species is proved to 

 h3-bridize freely with the Hooded Crow and produce fertile offspring, it cannot be 

 a distinct species, Herr Gatke shrewdly observes : — " The very circumstance, 

 however, that despite pairing having taken place for several thousands of 3'ears, 

 the two colours of the respective species have remained pure and distinct, forms 

 the most striking proof of the specific independence of the two ; for, if the}' had 

 not existed originally as two fixed primary forms, to which the mongrel offspring 

 reverted, though this may have occurred only after several generations, we should 

 at present know neither the one species nor the other in its pure simple 

 colouration, but should meet only with unlimited gradational stages of mixtures 

 of gre}' and black forms." 



This argument, however, is not unassailable, unless it be claimed that the 

 three Pheasants — P. cuIchicKs, P. /oi-qna/us, and P. vtrsicoloi-, which also interbreed 

 freely and produce endless intergrades are, therefore, not distinct species. It must 

 also be borne in mind that in some cases acknowledged sports of the same 

 species when crossed do not produce intergrades, but from one clutch of eggs 

 reproduce examples of each variety, as has been proved in the case of the 

 Barbaiy Turtle-Dove, the Gouldian Finch, and the supposed fertile hybrid known 

 as the Bengalee. 



In many respects the Carrion-Crow resembles the Raven, inhabiting similar 

 haunts, whether among the rocky uplands, or in woods and game-coverts. In its 

 predatory habits it is almost, if not cpiite as much dreaded, both by shepherd 

 and game-keeper. Ever seeking for food from dawn till dark, the mischief done 

 b}' a pair of this species in a single season must be enormous. Tliat this bird 

 has some courage seems probable from the fact that it will sometimes dispute 

 with a Gull or even a small Hawk, but it appears soon to weary of resisting a 



