CARRION-CROW. 259 



present time, is probably owing to the difficulty of dis- 

 tinguishing it, at any distance, from its more reputable 

 kinsman the rook. In spite, however, of constant 

 persecutions, a few pairs are still met with in different 

 portions of the county, for the most part frequenting the 

 big woods ; and in winter they are known to roost with the 

 rooks and jackdaws, as they are thus occasionally shot 

 by the gamekeepers, who fire up into the " lumj)" with 

 the hope of shooting a crow or two amongst their ill-fated 

 companions. Mr. Lambert, gamekeeper to Lord Wode- 

 house, at Kimberley, tells me that he has not un- 

 frequently killed them in this manner. For the last 

 two or three years a pair have attempted to nest in 

 Keswick rookery, near Norwich, and on one occasion, I 

 believe, brought off their young, but it is strange to 

 observe how the rooks forsake the trees near the haunts 

 of these birds, which renders them anything but desirable 

 intruders, to say nothing of their egg-stealing habits 

 and carnivorous tastes. Having observed, at different 

 times, during severe weather, several carrion crows 

 upon the Breydon '^' flats," I cannot help thinking that 

 migratory specimens visit us at such seasons ; and game- 

 keepers, also, in the neighbourhood of the broads, have 

 told me that they see most of them in the early spring, 

 when apparently inclined to remain and breed, but even 

 in these districts, where, formerly, they were very plen- 

 tiful, a carrion crow in summer would be pointed out 

 as a rarity by any resident marshman. Towards the 

 western end of the county, Mr. Newton informs me they 

 are regular spring or summer visitants ; and they still 

 breed yearly in the Bedford Level district. Messrs. Shep- 

 pard and Whitear give the following interesting note on 

 this species, from their own observations : — " We have 

 often been much amused with the sagacious instinct of 

 this bird, and of others of the same genus, in getting at 

 their prey. In the winter season they frequent the sea 

 2l2 



