200 SYNOPSIS AND: ALPHAGELICAL IN DE Zs 
Habits: Wary; when feeding one or two sentinel 
birds are always posted. Live in communities. Not 
migratory. Leave the rookeries (the nesting trees) 
with the young after nesting time (June), and then roost 
together in chosen trees, assembling with much ‘ caw- 
ing, heard even at night. Return to rookemess#in 
February to March. Visit fields, etc., daily in search 
of food, to streams, etc., for water, often making long 
journeys todo so. Note: The well known ‘cor,’ ‘ kor,’ 
or ‘caw.’ Food: Worms, slugs, grubs, insects, etc., 
also grain and seeds (frequent newly ploughed fields). 
Flesh of young: Edible. The young squabs are shot 
in early May. Nest: In early spring (February to 
March), exact time varies according to the season. 
Situated : In the topmost branches of the tallest available 
trees (but elms favourites, because their top branches 
are conveniently forked; there is also no obstruction to 
their flight in these high branches), in country and 
town. Open, bowl-shaped (bowl 8 inches across) ; whole 
nest about 2 feet across, and 18 inches to 2 feet high. 
(Compare nest of carrion crow, Plate XXI). Second 
nests: Only one brood yearly. Old nests repaired 
yearly, or new ones built if too much dilapidated. Made 
of: Dried sticks, and lined with dried grass. Eggs: 
Bluish-green, spotted and blotched with greyish-purple - 
and dull brown, Four to six, 
