stray notes on the birds of the country-side.



229



CARRION Crows are not uncommon, and I always think

most easily identified at a distance by their raucous cries, more

resembling the “ bark of a raven than the softer and much more

mellow “ caw ” of a rook.


A rather curious and amusing incident occurs to me in con¬

nection with these birds that may be worth recording. It concerns

a raven I possessed last year, which formed a great attachment to

one of a pair of carrion crows which wero in the habit of visiting a

meadow at the back of the house. This field was always frequented

largely by rooks as well as by the crows, and one of the favourite

amusements of the raven—which, by the way, was allowed com¬

plete liberty—was to gradually sidle up closer and closer to the

unsuspecting rooks until he got within a few yards of one, when

with a sudden dash he would pounce upon it and inflict three or

four vicious digs before the unfortunate rook was able to effect his

escape. On the best of terms with himself after this performance

he used to come hustling back to his lair giving vent to his feelings

the while by a series of throaty gutturals. It was only, however,

when he was safely esconsed on his favourite beam that he really let

himself go ; then began a veritable orgy of unholy glee, and as my

wife used to remark, there was something almost uncanny in his

sinister chucklings, interspersed with guttural grunts and deep croaks

and followed by the whole repertoire of his accomplishments : bark¬

ing, mewing, cooing like a pigeon, crowing, and repeating “Jolly

Jack,” the only words he could manage. The whole performance

lasting as a rule about an hour or more. I fear, however, that I

am rather straying from my “ martins ” the crows, so to return.


He was accustomed to approach the crows in precisely the

same manner, but although he occasionally made vicious rushes at

one of them, to the others, as will be seen, his conduct was entirely

different. After he had made the usual cautious approach and was

within a few yards of one of them (the lady crow I presume) he

used to suddenly introduce himself with what I have no doubt he

imagined was a graceful and courtly bow, at the same time half

opening his wings and emitting a loud nerve-shaking croak, into

which he strove, though with little success, to infuse some endear¬

ing expression.



