Notes from Archangel. 65 



49. Loxia curvirostra. One common Crossbill only was 

 shot, and not preserved. No others were observed by us; 

 but they were said to be abundant in some places. 



Obs. — We did not meet with Loxia leucoptera ; but there is 

 one in the museum. We were told that these birds are abun- 

 dant during some seasons and are sold alive in Archangel ; 

 other years very few are to be obtained. 



50. Coiivus monedula. Jackdaws were very common. The 

 grey of the nape was much clearer and better marked in all 

 those we saw in Russia than it usually is in British specimens ; 

 and in some the mark seemed almost white. 



51. Corvus corax. Very common close to Archangel. A 

 pair of Ravens were nesting in the town itself, and large 

 numbers are attracted to the neighbourhood (like the Samoy- 

 edes) by the proximity of the town slaughter-houses. Rows 

 of these birds might be seen sitting, after a good meal, on the 

 tops of the slaughter-houses, and exhibiting a fearlessness very 

 different from the wariness they display on a wild mountain- 

 side. 



52. Corvus frugilegus. The Rook is considered very rare 

 by the inhabitants ; but we observed a considerable number 

 consorting with Hooded Crows near Cholmogory, and one of 

 our party killed two specimens. 



53. Corvus cornix. The Hooded Crow is extremely abun- 

 dant j in fact the " Verone " is one of the most characteristic 

 birds of the district. Another name for the Hooded Crow is 

 the " Russian Nightingale." 



54. Picacaudata. The Magpie is not very abundant. We 

 observed it at Cholmogory. 



Obs. — There is one specimen of Corvus corone in Herr 

 Heinrich's collection, and also one specimen of Nucifraga 

 caryocatactes. 



55. Perisoreus infaustus. The Northern Jay is common, 

 and was generally seen by us in small flocks or family parties 

 in the pine-woods. Very quaint-looking birds are these 

 Northern Jays, with the nez retrousse, their bushy heads, and 



