THE CARRION CROW. 211 



Some of our leading ornithologists-^ have now come 

 to the conclusion that the Carrion Crow (Gorvus corone) 

 and the Hooded Crow (Gorvus comix) are only different 

 forms of the same species, and the fact of the two inter- 

 breeding freely in a wild state/ in some parts of Europe 

 and Asia, supports this view. The habits of the Carrion 

 Crow and those of the Hooded Crow, as seen in this county, 

 differ in some respects — the former frequenting inland dis- 

 tricts and woods more than the latter, which is usually 

 found about the coast, or on open ground, such as fields 

 where sheep are feeding on turnips. Nearly all the Hooded 

 Crows likewise leave us before summer, while numbers of 

 Carrion Crows remain during that season, and nest in the 

 woods. 



This species is a great enemy to game of all kinds, 

 seizing and making off with the young, and searching 

 hedgerows and covers for the eggs of Partridges and 

 Pheasants, which it greedily devours. On this account it is 

 ruthlessly shot and trapped by gamekeepers. It like- 

 wise commits depredations amongst poultry by carrying 

 off young chickens, which it generally does early in the 



1882.— Fames, with Grey Crows in Oct., Nov., and Dec. Spring 1883. — Isle of 

 May, 19th March. Autumn 1883. — Isle of May, seen on 31st Oct., and 

 several on 1st Nov., with other migrants. — Reports on Migration of Birds, 

 1879-85. 



1 See Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed., vol. ii. pp. 274-277; also Seebohm's 

 British Birds, vol. i. p. 544. 



- Mr. Kelly records that they are occasionally found inter-breeding in 

 Lauderdale. — Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 304. Mr. George Bolam states 

 that he has seen a mixed breed reared in the sea-cliffs to the north of Berwick, 

 and that in 1880 he kept one of the young birds in confinement. It ultimately 

 assiimed a plumage half way between the two forms. — Hist. Ber. Nat. Chib, 

 vol. X. p. 391. 



3 In the spring of 1882 numbers of young chickens were taken away from the 

 poultry yard at Nabdean by Carrion Crows, which were so cunning that they 

 eluded most of the attempts made to shoot them. Mr. Hardy records (Hist. 

 Ber. Nat. Club, vol. x. p. 559) that, in the same season, they carried off chickens 

 from the Pease Mill. 



