52 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



and plantations ; sometimes on ledges of cliffs. I 

 have on more than one occasion found a nest in a 

 thorn bush not more than twelve feet in height. 

 In England, Wales, Scotland, and the north of 

 Ireland. The bird is nowhere very numerous, as 



YOUNG CARRION CROWS. 



its predatory habits make for it an uncompromising 

 enemy in the gamekeeper. 



Materials. Sticks and mud, lined with grass, 

 wool, horse and cowhair. 



Eggs. Four or five, occasionally as many as 

 six, grey-green, blotched and spotted with ash- 

 colour or smoky-brown ; sometimes they are found 

 quite blue, and minus spots of any kind. They 

 are similar to those of the Rook and Raven, but 

 larger than the former and smaller than the latter, 

 and the position of the nest generally suffices to 

 distinguish them. Size about 1.65 by 1.2 in. (See 

 Plate I.) 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Resident. Numbers increased in 



