98 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



in this count}^ where it is a rare bird, but are the 

 result of observations made at various times in 

 other parts of England and Ireland. 



The Hooded Crow, more frequently to be seen 

 towards the mouth of the river, is seldom observed 

 in the interior of the country, and during the last 

 fifteen years I am not aware that more than half-a- 

 dozen examples have been killed inland. These 

 few, at long intervals, were obtained in the winter or 

 early spring at Cricklewood, Hendon, Kingsbury, 

 and Bushey. On one occasion in April, while 

 walking in the Eegent's Park, a Hooded Crow 

 passed over my head within shot. It was flying 

 very leisurely, on the look-out for food, apparently, 

 and was heading in the direction north-east. 



An old keeper with whom I am acquainted, and 

 who knows this bird well from the number he has 

 seen and trapped further north, informed me that 

 many years ago, before the ground between Kensal 

 Green and Kilburn was built upon, a pair of these 

 birds frequented a large field there belonging to a 

 Mr. Harper ; and from the fact of his having seen a 

 pair at the same place during several successive 

 springs, he suspected that they were the same birds, 

 and nested in the neighbourhood. 



PiOOK, Corvus frugilegus. Perhaps no birds afi'ord 

 us better opportunities of observing their habits 

 than the Eooks. Resident with us throughout the 

 year, and very generally distributed over the 



