84 CORVID.E. 



western and northern parts of Scotland, in the Hebrides, the 

 Orkney and Shetland Islands, this bird is resident through- 

 out the year ; and Mr. Selby observes, that " as he has been 

 assured, from the most authentic information, that in those 

 districts of Scotland where they abound, there is no visible 

 diminution of their numbers during the winter months," the 

 inference seems to be that the greater part of those which 

 visit England come from Sweden, Norway, and other coun- 

 tries situated to the north-east, this opinion being strength- 

 ened by the flict of their generally arriving with the first 

 flight of Woodcocks, which birds always take advantage 

 of a north-eastern breeze for their journey. The Hooded 

 Crows, on their appearance in this country, frequent marshes 

 near the sea, the banks and shores of tide rivers, inhabiting 

 both sides of the Thames as high up as within a few miles of 

 London ; and when inland these birds frequent champagne 

 countries and open downs. 



More than two are seldom seen associated, except when 

 food is to be obtained ; and so destructive are these Hooded 

 Crows to young lambs, eggs, or poultry, that in the Orkney 

 and Shetland Islands, where they are numerous, rewards at 

 the rate of two pence for every Crow were paid by the local 

 authorities up to so late a period as the year 1835, in con- 

 sequence of which many were annually destroyed. On the 

 coast they feed upon sand-worms, shell-fish, and almost any 

 marine production. Mr. Selby says, " I have repeatedly 

 observed one of these birds to soar up to a considerable 

 height in the air, with a cockle or mussel in its bill, and then 

 drop it upon the rock, in order to obtain the included fish." 

 Dr. Fleming, in his Philosophy of Zoology, considers in- 

 stinct, in this degree, as bordering closely upon intelligence, 

 as implying a notion of power, and also of cause and effect. 

 May not such an act be referred to knowledge gained by 

 experience ? 



