546 BRITISH BIRDS. 
the Hooded Crow bears a bad name from his habit of devouring the birds 
caught in the ‘ flight-nets.’ Over these broad mudflats and marshes 
miles of netting is set to ensnare the countless thousands of birds con- 
tinually flying over them. If the owners of the nets are not at them 
in good time in the morning the relentless Crows make a meal of the 
captured birds. Many a wounded bird on these marshes also falls a victim 
to the cunning Crow, ever on the look-out for prey. I have seen the 
Hoodies congregate in countless numbers here in autumn; and they also 
do the same in spring, probably for the purpose of pairing and nofé as 
‘craas’ courts’ for administering justice or punishment, as even some 
modern ornithologists affirm to be the case.” 
The habits of the Hooded Crow in summer do not differ very much from 
those of the Carrion-Crow ; and the haunts it frequents are similar. It is 
an inhabitant of the wild upland farms, the rocky coasts, and moors, where 
it wages an incessant war upon all creatures it is capable of overpowering. 
It is detested by the gamekeeper and the shepherd as much as the Carrion- 
Crow; and a ceaseless persecution is waged against it. 
Sometimes the Hooded Crow may be seen searching for its food on the 
water like a Gull. When carrion is scarce the Hooded Crow is a perfect 
pest, and his depredations extend in wide directions. In spring he searches 
diligently for nests and plunders them, from the eyry of the Golden Eagle, 
only accessible to a winged enemy, to the little homes of the Pipits and 
the Larks amongst the meadow-grass._ He will rob the sea-birds of their 
eggs, also the game-birds ; and even poultry are not safe from his attacks. 
Nor are his inroads confined to the eggs; he will also carry off the young 
chicks, conveying both eggs and birds to some quiet corner, where he can 
dispose of them unmolested. Booth is of opinion that the Hooded Crow 
sometimes visits the eyries of the larger birds of prey to plunder the larder 
provided forthe young. Saxby gives a most graphic account of a colony 
of Terns which beat off and ultimately drowned a Hooded Crow that, 
bent on plunder, invaded their breeding-ground. These birds gathered in 
force round their common enemy so thickly and pertinaciously that he was 
unable to rise. Gradually driving him out to sea they beat him still lower 
and lower towards the water, until at last he fell into the sea exhausted. 
The note of the Hooded Crow is like that of the Carrion-Crow. It 
is a hoarse kra, repeated at intervals, and sometimes drawn out into the 
syllables karruck, karruck, almost like the call-note of the Gannet. In the 
pairing-season, which is early in March, he will also utter many pleasing 
sounds ; and at this time he is certainly a most engaging bird, for his 
notes are usually uttered as he opens and closes his wings, spreads his tail, 
and sometimes performs various graceful aerial evolutions. 
The Hooded Crow probably pairs for life, and is a somewhat late 
breeder. The Raven’s eggs are laid long before the snow is off the moun- 
