CORVID^. 113 



are generally killed during the winter season in the 

 neighbourhood of Windsor, Cookham, and Maiden- 

 head. 



At the large reservoirs near Drayton Beauchamp, 

 this species is common in winter. It is also found 

 during frosty weather in the neighbourhood of Ches- 

 ham. Besides being wary, the Royston Crow possesses 

 a great amount of cunning, as the following anecdote 

 will show. 



A friend was driving home one evening, when he 

 observed one of these Crows feeding on a dead sheep 

 by the roadside : he shot it, picked it up, and placed 

 it carefully in the bottom of the carriage — apparently 

 quite dead. He had not proceeded far when on 

 hearing a noise behind him, he looked round and 

 was surprised to see the bird sitting on the back- 

 rail of the vehicle; on stretching out his hand to 

 recapture it, to his amazement the Crow flew away. 

 He watched it for some distance, and as it flew 

 strongly and well, it appeared evident that the bird 

 had been only shamming. 



