is reported to have bred occassionally, but confirmation is needed. In 

 Austro-Hungary it breeds in Bohemia, Austria and Hungary, is common 

 in Transylvania and very plentiful and tame in Slavonia. Over the greater 

 part of the Balkan peninsula it is generally distributed, chiefly breeding 

 in the hills up to 5400 feet, and becoming scarce in Greece, while it has 

 been found nesting on Naxos and the neighbouring islets. In Italy, Sicily 

 and the Balearic Isles it is a common resident. 



Very similar in construction to that of C. corax, but of course smaller. Nest. 

 Nests among rocks are as a rule more bulky and contain more material 

 than those in trees. Besides the usual sticks, twigs, furze or heather stems, 

 large seaweed stalks are often utilized on the coast, and Saxby mentions 

 cases where the foundation of the nest consisted of bones of ponies and 

 sheep. Turf is frequently used to fill up interstices, and wool, feathers, paper, 

 moss and hair are used as lining material; while the whole is compactly 

 built, with the usual warm and deep cup. Over the greater part of its 

 range this species is a tree-breeding bird, but along rocky coasts the nest 

 is usually placed on a ledge or crevice of the cliff. At Thorshavn (Faeroes) 

 it is said to breed on the houses, and where neither trees nor rocks are 

 available it nests on the ground among heather, generally close to a stone. 

 Pearson found a nest off the Norwegian coast, in a circular iron cage, used 

 as a beacon, 1 ^j^ miles from the land ! and Naumann records nests on a 

 beam under a bridge, on a dunghill and on the high chimney of an 

 old house. 



Usually 4 to 5 or 6 in number, rarely 7, except in Central Hungary Eggs. 

 (F. C. Selous), and resembling those of C. corone in character, though the 

 ground colour is often of a more decided green and in a large series the 

 average size is seen to be rather less. As in the case of C. corax and 

 C. corone, the type with a distinct blue ground occurs, often when the rest 

 of the clutch are normal in colour. In a series from the Fseroes the pro- 

 portion of blue eggs is larger than usual. Occasionally blue eggs are found 

 without any markings, but this variety is scarce. A clutch of red eggs of 

 this species was taken near Gothenburg, SAveden, on May 12, 1889, and 

 is now in Mr, Ramberg's collection. 



In Ireland the eggs are usually laid in April, but in west Cork they Breeding 

 have been taken as early as March 15 (Ussher); in Scotland from about season. 

 April 20 onwards, but in the Shetlands seldom before mid-May (Saxby). 

 In Germany and Denmark eggs may be found from early April, and this 

 appears to be the case also in Italy, Greece, Asia Minor etc.; in Montenegro 

 from April 14 to 24; but individual birds vary a good deal in this respect 

 and though the Hooded Crow is single-brooded it is not uncommon to find 

 fresh eggs and well grown young on the same day, even where undisturbed. 

 In northern Scandinavia the eggs are frequently not laid till the middle 



