286 CORVID^. 



in which case the annual addition of fresh materials makes 

 a structure of huge bulk. Sticks, heather, roots, turf, sea- 

 weed, bones — in short, almost anything that the birds can 

 find and carry — are built into its foundation and outworks ; 

 but, however large these may be, the interior is always a cup 

 lined with moss, wool, fur, hair and feathers, neatly inter- 

 woven and smooth, and of a size fitted to hold from four to 

 six eggs, subsequently laid therein. These are in colour 

 very like Ravens', but seldom have the markings so deep in 

 shade — black for instance being almost wholly wanting — or 

 so numerous : in size they measure from 2*07 to 1*5 by from 

 1*27 to 1'04 inch. It is well known of many birds that 

 when one of a pair is killed, the survivor speedily obtains a 

 new mate, who continues the work of reproduction. This has 

 been repeatedly observed to be the case with Crows, from 

 the fact, probably, that few species are more systematically 

 slaughtered in the breeding-season. 



The food of the Crow is varied, but consists almost exclu- 

 sively of animal matter, of which nothing that can be found 

 comes amiss, from the carcase of a large quadruped to the 

 grubs of insects. The heaps of refuse washed uj) on the 

 sea-beach, and the shores of tidal rivers, as well as on lands 

 that have been recently flooded, supply a great portion, and 

 in such places the birds may be seen, often in considerable 

 flocks, diligently seeking for anything eatable, each individual 

 as intently watching the actions of its comrades as carrying 

 on its own search, so that the discovery by one of booty 

 larger than common is sure to be observed by the rest, who 

 hasten to share the spoil, pieces of which are torn off and 

 conveyed to a convenient station to be devoured. Bones and 

 shelled animals, the marrow or soft parts of which cannot be 

 readily extracted, are borne aloft to a considerable height and 

 drojjped upon rocks or stones that they may be broken, the 

 bird following them very closely in their fall ; but several 

 observers have noticed that it often mistakes the nature of 

 the ground beneath, and repeated trials are frequently needed 

 to attain a successful performance of the cunning feat. It 

 Avill also hover over the water and seize fishes or offal that 



