112 NATURE NEAR LONDON. 



without looking round the place. But the crow is 

 a keen observer, and has not the least necessity to 

 search for the nest. 



He merely keeps a watch on the motions of the old 

 birds of the place, and knows at once by their flight 

 being so continually directed to one spot that there 

 their treasure lies. He and his companion may come 

 very early in the morning summer mornings are 

 bright as noonday long before the earliest gardener is 

 abroad or they may come in the dusk of the 

 evening. Crows are not so particular in retiring 

 regularly to roost as the rook. 



The furze and copse frequented by the pair which I 

 found attacking the missel-thrushes are situate at the 

 edge of extensive arable fields. In these, though not 

 overlooked by gamekeepers, there is a good deal of 

 game which is preserved by the tenants of the farms. 

 After the bitter winter and wet summer of 1879, there 

 was a complaint, too well founded, that the partridges 

 were diminished in numbers. But the crows were not. 

 There were as many of them as ever. When there 

 were many partridges the loss of a few eggs or chicks 

 was not so important. But when there are but few, 

 every egg or chick destroyed retards the re- stocking 

 of the fields. 



The existence of so many crows all round London 

 is, in short, a constant check upon the game. The 

 belt of land immediately outside the houses, and lying 

 between them and the plantations which are preserved, 

 is the crow's reserve, where he hunts in security. He 

 is so safe that he has almost lost all dread of man, 

 and his motions can be observed without trouble. 



