CHOUGH. 



59 



scarcely suffer them to enter the garden. Even strangers of 

 any age are challenged vociferously ; he approaches all with 

 daring impudence ; and so completely does the sight of 

 strangers change his affection for the time, that even his fa- 

 vourites and best benefactors cannot touch him Avith impunity 

 in these moments of evident displeasure." 



This bird in a wild state feeds on insects and berries and 

 occasionally upon grain, but is seldom seen searching for 

 them in the open fields. Mr. Wallace, of Douglas, in the 

 Isle of Man, at the southern extremity of which, being very 

 rocky, these birds breed in security, and from whence that 

 gentleman had the kindness to bring me two skins in Feb- 

 ruary last, tells me that he has seen them following the 

 plough to obtain the grubs of insects that are thus exposed, 

 and in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, it is recorded that in 

 August 1882, a Red-legged Crow was killed on the Wilt- 

 shire Downs, near the Bath road, between ISIarlborough and 

 Calne, by a man employed in keeping birds from corn ; Mr. 

 Blyth mentions having known it to occur on Mitcham Com- 

 mon in Surrey. 



This bird makes a nest of sticks lined with wool and hair 

 in the cavities of high cliffs, or in old castles, or church 

 towers, near the sea ; laying four or five eggs of a yellowish 

 white colour, spotted wdth ash grey and light brown, the 

 length one inch eight lines, by one inch one line in breadth. 

 The voice of the Chough is shrill, but not disagreeable, and 

 something like that of the Oyster-catcher. When on the 

 wing at a moderate distance, the flight is similar to that of a 

 Rook ; but when walking on the ground, from its slender 

 form, the appearance of the bird is more animated and its 

 actions more graceful. 



Pennant says, " The Chough is found in small numbers on 

 Dover cliff, where they came by accident ; a gentleman in 

 that neighbourhood liad a pair sent him as a present from 



