82 HOODED CROW. 



and more common, particularly in the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands. In Ireland also it is fairly common. 



It has been thought by some that the Hooded and 

 Carrion Crows are simply varieties of the same 

 species, for no difference can be found on dissection, 

 but there is a great difference in the plumage of these 

 birds, for the Hooded Crow has its head, tail, and 

 wings black and the rest of its body grey ; this 

 colouring however varies a great deal with different 

 birds, which is possibly due to the fact that the 

 Carrion and Hooded Crows will frequently pair to- 

 gether. 



Like the former species, carrion is the favourite 

 food of the Hooded Crow, but he is somewhat more 

 of a coast bird, and will rob the nests of sea birds of 

 their eggs or young. Small chicks or even leverets 

 fall a ready prey to him, in consequence of which he 

 is terribly persecuted by the gamekeeper and shepherd. 

 He will also feed on worms and insects, and is very 

 fond of mussels. His note, too, is like that of the 

 Carrion Crow, a hoarse croak or " craa " repeated 

 at intervals. 



He is also a somewhat late breeder. The nest is 

 placed in the crevices or on the ledges of rocks and 

 cliffs ; sometimes in a tree or not infrequently in a 

 bush, eight or nine feet from the ground. It is built 

 of sticks, or, when these cannot be obtained, of seaweed, 

 lined with roots, stalks of plants, wool and hair. He 

 probably pairs for life. 



The eggs are usually four or five in number and 

 are quite indistinguishable from those of the Carrion 

 Crow — greenish in ground colour with grey and brown 

 markings. The Hooded Crow will frequently bring 

 down the wrath of other birds upon him by his nest- 



