68 THE ROOK 
and in all but the south of Scotland they are of more frequent 
occurrence than any other of the tribe, essentially belonging to the 
‘Land of the mountain and the flood’. It is om the increase in 
Ireland and very unwelcome there. One can scarcely traverse 
the shores of the salt-water lochs of Scotland without seeing a 
pair, or, in the latter part of the year, a small party of four or five 
of these birds, gravely pacing the shingle and sand in quest of food. 
As far as my own experience goes, I should consider the Hooded 
Crow as ‘ half sea-bird’, but it is said to be met with, in summer, 
in the very centre of the Grampians and other inland districts. 
Its proper diet consists of the smaller marine animals, such as 
crabs, echini, and molluscs, alive or dead, fish and carrion. At 
high-water it retires inland, and skulks about the low grounds 
in quest of the eggs and young of Moor-fowl, thereby gaining the 
execrations of gamekeepers ; takes a survey of any adjacent sheep- 
walks, on the chance of falling in with a new-born lamb, or sickly 
ewe, whence it has but an ill name among shepherds ; and returns 
when the tide has well ebbed, to finish the day’s repast on food 
of a nature light and easy of digestion. It is less wary of man than 
the Carrion Crow, and often comes within shot, but, being far too 
numerous to admit of being exterminated, is but little assailed. 
In the comparatively mild climate of the Scottish sea-coast, these 
birds find an abundant supply of food all the year round and as there 
is no sensible diminution of their numbers in winter, it is supposed that 
those which frequent the English coast from October to March 
have been driven southwards by the inclement winters of high 
latitudes. They are then frequently observed on the coast of 
Norfolk and Sussex in parties of thirty or more, and it has been 
remarked that the hunting, grounds of the two species are defined 
by singularly precise limits, the neighbourhood of Chichester being 
frequented by the Carrion Crow, that of Brighton by its congener. 
It is abundant on the sea-coast of Norfolk in the winter, where I 
have seen it feeding with Gulls, Plovers, etc. In musical capa- 
bilities it is inferior even to its relative, its solitary croak being 
neither so loud nor so clear. The nest of the Hooded Crow is large, 
composed of twigs, sea-weeds, heath, feathers, and straws, and is 
placed on rocks, tall trees, low bushes, and elsewhere, accord- 
ing to circumstances. 
THE ROOK 
CORVUS FRUGILEGUS 
Plumage black, with purple and violet reflections ; base of the beak, nostrils ; 
and region round the beak bare of feathers and covered with a white scurf, 
iris greyish white ; beak and feet black. Length eighteen inches ; breadth 
three feet. Eggs pale green, thickly blotched with olive and dark-brown. 
As the Hooded Crow is essentially the type of the Corvide in 
