CROW 117 
that the latter occupies the north-eastern portion—an irregular line 
drawn diagonally from about the Firth of Clyde to the head of the 
Adriatic roughly marking their respective distribution. But both 
are essentially migrants, and hence it follows than when the Black 
Crow, as summer comes to an end, retires southward, the Grey 
Crow moves downward, and in many districts replaces it during 
the winter. Further than this, it has now been incontestably 
proved that along or near the boundary where these two birds 
march, they not infrequently interbreed, and it is believed that the 
hybrids, which sometimes wholly resemble one or other of the 
parents and at other times assume an intermediate plumage, pair 
indiscriminately among themselves, or with the pure stock. Hence 
it has seemed to some ornithologists who have studied the subject, 
that these two birds, so long unhesitatingly regarded as distinct 
species, are only local races of one and the same dimorphic species. 
No structural difference—or indeed any difference except that of 
range (already spoken of) and colour—can be detected, and the 
problem they offer is one of which the solution is exceedingly 
interesting if not important to zoologists in general.' 
The views here briefly expressed have been set forth much more 
fully in the fourth edition of Yarrell’s British Birds (ii. pp. 274-288) ; 
but they seem to be highly distasteful to some writers, whose remarks, 
however, shew a curious inability to appreciate the admitted facts of 
the question. The mode of life of the Crows needs not to be 
described. Almost omnivorous in their diet, there is little edible 
that comes amiss to them, and, except in South America and New 
Zealand, they are mostly omnipresent. The number of species 
described is considerable, but doubtless should and will be ruthlessly 
curtailed when a revision of the group is undertaken by any orni- 
thologist working with proper materials. The Fish-Crow of North 
America, C. ossifragus, demands a few words, since it betrays a taste 
for maritime habits beyond that of other species, but our own 
Crows of Europe are not averse on occasion from prey cast up by the 
waters, though they will hardly draw it thence for themselves. 
The so-called “Hooded Crow” of India, C. splendens, is not very 
nearly allied to its European namesake, from which it can be 
readily distinguished by its smaller size and the lustrous tints of 
its darkest feathers, while its confidence in the human race has been 
so long encouraged by its intercourse with an unarmed and in- 
offensive population, that it becomes a plague to the European 
abiding or travelling where it is abundant. Hardly a station or 
camp in British India is free from a crowd of feathered followers 
1 As bearing upon this question may be mentioned the fact that the Crow of 
Australia, C. australis, is divisible into two forms or races, one having the irides 
white, the other of a dark colour. It is stated that they keep apart and do not 
intermix. 
