THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
from the Continent, and the wonder is that they do not 
more frequently visit the fields and open spaces of Greater 
London. In Scotland the bird is a familiar one all the 
year round, and in many localities replaces the Carrion 
Crow. Its habits are much the same, only the bird is a 
much more gregarious one, in this respect resembling the 
Rook. It is equally omnivorous, seeking its food on the 
fields or the sea-shore, preying upon any living thing it 
can capture, any carrion it can find, or on any grain, 
potatoes, turnips, and so forth that come its way. It 
has the usual steady, prolonged flight of its kind, and in 
spring often indulges in aerial gambols. Its note is a 
harsh kra or krah, modulated at times into guttural 
chuckles. ‘The Hooded Crow breeds rather late, the 
eggs being laid in April and May. Sometimes a tree is 
selected for the nest, but more frequently in our islands 
a ledge of rock on some cliff, or even the ground amongst 
long heather. Many pairs frequently breed in the same 
locality, although not exactly in colonies like Rooks. 
The big nest is made outwardly of sticks and turf, lined 
with wool, moss, hair, feathers, and fur. ‘The eggs are 
usually five, green of various tints in ground colour, 
blotched and spotted with olive-brown and grey of 
several shades. ‘The birds evince the usual Crow-like 
wariness during the breeding season, and after the young 
are reared social tendencies are again more pronounced. 
The adult Hooded Crow has the head, wings, tail, 
lanceolate throat feathers, and upper breast black, shot 
with green and slightly with purple; the remainder of 
the plumage is grey. Bill black; tarsi and toes black ; 
irides dark brown. Length 17-18 inches. The female 
is similar to the male in colour, as are the nestlings, but 
the latter lack all metallic lustre, and the feathers on the 
throat are less pointed. It has long been known that the 
Hooded Crow interbreeds with the Carrion Crow in 
certain localities where the two species occur. 
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