206 CROWS AND ROOKS. 



with the party, and it was a pleasure to see them gambol 

 in their glossy plumage on the white snow. 



CROWS AND ROOKS. 



PEOPLE who live in towns, or pay little attention to 

 these matters, would no doubt consider the above-men- 

 tioned birds as one and the same, alike as they are in 

 size and colour, and seen as they usually are, spread 

 over our fields, or uttering their well-known cawings on 

 the top of some hedge. They are, however, as distinct 

 in their characters and habits as a hare and a rabbit. 

 The real Crow, commonly called the Carrion Crow 

 (Corvus cor one)., is the next link in the chain after the 

 Raven, which it resembles far more nearly than it does 

 the Rook. The male and his mate, for example, seldom 

 associate with the rest of their species, except, as we 

 shall show by-and-by, for particular purposes, but gene- 

 rally remain in pairs. Their favourite food, too, like 

 the Raven, is carrion, and they will watch their oppor- 

 tunity, and pounce down on young lambs, or even sheep, 

 when they find them what is called cast, that is, thrown 

 upon their backs in a furrow, and unable to rise. In 

 these cases, the eye is the point which they first attack; 

 but smaller living prey they will also attempt to carry 

 off, to be devoured at leisure. A person walking near a 

 plantation heard a shrill cry, and, running in to find out 

 the cause, discovered a Crow fastening itself on a young 

 rabbit, weighing from half to three-quarters of a pound, 

 which was making great efforts to release itself, but in 

 vain, for the Crow actually caught it up and bore it 

 away across two or three fields. Such is their favourite 

 food ; but, when pressed by hunger, they will also feed 

 on potatoes, barley, or, in short, whatever comes within 

 their reach. 



The Rook, on the other hand, is a social bird, passing 

 its days with those relations and friends amongst whom 

 it was born and bred; and for its food, preferring a 



