258 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



Mr. Alfred Newton : — " When undisturbed, tliey have 

 usually re-furnished their last year's nest, always lining 

 it neatly with rabbits' down. It is built on one of some 

 lofty Scotch fir-trees standing far out on a heath. The 

 number of eggs laid is generally five, but I have known 

 them to be content with four ; while, on the other hand, 

 six were once dejjosited. While the hen is sitting, the 

 actions of the male bird are well worth watching : he 

 dashes indiscriminately at any bird that approaches, be 

 it stock-dove or peregrine falcon, and when the intruder 

 has been utterly routed, he shoots back to the nest, 

 celebrating his victory by a sonorous croak, turning, as 

 he utters it, completely over* on his back, an action 

 which does not, however, in the least degree impede his 

 onward career. He then resumes his look-out station on 

 one of the highest boughs ; perhaps leaving it again 

 at the expiration of a few minutes to repel another 

 invasion." It is probable that migratory stragglers still 

 visit us occasionally in winter, more particularly in 

 sharp weather, as Mr. Dix assures me that, a year or two 

 back, he saw seven in a body passing high overhead at 

 West Harling, and was attracted by their harsh notes 

 and quarrelling amongst themselves ; but for the last 

 eight or ten years, at least, I have seen but one specimen 

 in our bird-stuffers' hands, undoubtedly obtained in a 

 wild state. 



CORVUS CORONE, Linnaeus. 



CAREION-CROW. 



It is scarcely to be wondered at that in one of the 

 largest game preserving counties in England, the 

 Carrion-crow should have become yearly more and more 

 scarce, in fact its existence amongst us at all, at the 



