234 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



its plumage, legs, and beak are of one sable hue, except 

 for the lustrous metallic reflections shown by some of 

 the feathers in a good light. Its voice is not so harsh 

 as the Raven's, and its habits differ slightly, partly be- 

 cause of the difference in size. 



Everywhere it is hated, for although almost omnivor- 

 ous, and often a carrion eater, it does immense damage 

 to other birds through its raids on their nests in search 

 of eggs or yoiuig. Everywhere, accordingly, merciless 

 war is waged against it ; but it still exists in small 

 numbers over the parts of the British Isles included in 

 its range — England, Wales, and the Scottish Lowlands. 

 In these regions it is a more or less resident breeding- 

 bird. On our eastern seaboard it is also to some ex- 

 tent an autumn immigrant, although whence it comes 

 is a puzzling point in view of the distribution of the 

 species, a question to be touched on in the next chapter. 



There seems to be ground for believing that the 

 Carrion-Crow pairs for life ; but in winter it shows a 

 certain gregarious tendency, and may be met with in 

 small flocks, often including individuals of the next 

 species. Even in summer, under favourable conditions 

 such as are rarely found in the British Isles, a few 

 pairs will nest quite near each other, in a sort of 

 loose colony. 



The nesting-place is usually a fairly tall tree inland or 

 a cliff-ledge on the coast. Other sites are exceptional. 

 The nest itself is a well-built, deep cup of twigs, in 

 most cases comfortably lined with wool. In this the 

 eggs are laid towards the end of April. They are four 

 or five in number, and in colour are bluish green, with 

 indefinite light-brown blotches. About eighteen days are 

 needed for incubation, and the chicks are of the usual 

 Passerine nidi colons type — blind and helpless, and with 



