234 CARRION-CROW. 



uncommon, although frequent in the Caucasus, the Black Sea dis- 

 trict, the valley of the Danube, (ireece, and Southern Germany. 

 In Northern Germany its eastern summer-limits are approximately 

 indicated by the valley of the Elbe ; while to the west and south 

 it is found breeding as far as France, the Spanish Peninsula, the 

 northern districts of Italy, Corsica and Sardinia. In Asia it nests 

 in Turkestan, and, sparingly, in Cashmere ; in Western Siberia it 

 meets and interbreeds freely with the Hooded Crow ; but in the 

 forest district between the Yenesei and the Pacific, as well as in 

 Northern China and Japan, the Carrion-Crow again prevails. Its 

 occurrence in North Africa is doubtful, but it is said to visit 

 Madeira. 



This species seldom makes its nest before the middle of April, 

 generally selecting for the purpose some moderately tall tree which 

 affords a good look-out, or a ledge of rock ; but, where these sites are 

 not available, it will build in a low bush, and even on the ground. 

 The structure is composed of sticks, fine twigs &c., with a warm 

 lining of wool and other soft materials ; the eggs, usually 4-5 in 

 number, are bluish-green, spotted and blotched with olive-brown : 

 average measurements 17 by i"2 in. The Carrion-Crow probably 

 pairs for life, and is generally to be seen in couples, quartering the 

 ground carefully, with somewhat heavy and laboured flight, in quest 

 of food. Carrion, weakly lambs, poultry, the eggs of game and 

 water-fowl, leverets, moles, rats, fish, mussels and the refuse of the 

 shore — nothing comes amiss to it ; but it will also eat insects, grubs, 

 grain and fruit, like the Rock, and I have seen it on the hill-sides in 

 the Pyrenees in similar flocks. Its ordinary note is a hoarse croak, 

 but it sometimes emits sounds which may almost be called musical ; 

 while in confinement it develops some capacity for imitation. 



The adult has the entire plumage black, glossed on the upper 

 parts with purple, tinged with green on the head, neck and throat ; 

 nostrils covered with thick bristly feathers, directed forwards ; bill, 

 legs and feet black. Length about 19 '5 in. ; wing 13 in. The 

 female is less glossy, and has sometimes a browner tinge on her 

 plumage than the male. The young bird is still duller in colour. 

 The inside of the mouth is always pale flesh-colour : in the young 

 Rook it is dark flesh-colour, soon turning livid, and afterwards slate- 

 colour. Albinisms and varieties are not very common ; the Rev. 

 H. A. Macpherson has recorded one of a reddish-fawn, the rest of 

 the brood being in normal plumage. 



