CROWS AND ROOKS. 189 



There is one intermediate link seen, in parts of England, 

 between the Carrion Crow and the Rook, namely, the Hooded- 

 grey or Royston Crow, which differs from the Carrion Crow in 

 having the back and lower parts of the breast and belly grey, 

 the black shafts of the feathers giving these parts a streaky 

 appearance. They are clever birds, and when frequenting the 

 sea-shore, in search of shell-fish, may be frequently seen, after 

 vain attempts to break through the hard shell of a cockle or 

 mussel, to seize it in their bill, mount with it to a great height, 

 and then let it fall on a hard rock, by which it is broken, and 

 the bird has nothing more to do than to reap the fruits of its 

 forethought. 



It is said that this species of Crow will pair with the 

 common Crow a proof how nearly allied the two species are ; 

 as it seems almost an established law of nature, one at least 

 rarely infringed, that neither animals nor birds essentially 

 differing, however near may be their apparent resemblance, 

 will ever breed together. Both the Carrion Crow and the 

 Hooded Crow are migratory birds, but this peculiarity is most 

 marked in the latter species, which regularly winters on oui 

 shores, arriving in October and departing for its northern 

 haunts in March. 



The Crow, like the Raven, may be easily tamed, and con- 

 verted into a very entertaining member of a family ; though, 

 like the rest of the tribe, he is sure to carry off, to some 

 secret store, whatever he can conveniently dispose of. He 

 soon becomes quite familiar, and distinguishes, at a glance, a 

 stranger from one of his friends; and, even after a long 

 absence, will recollect those from whom he has received kind- 

 ness. A gentleman had reared one, and kept it for a long 

 time, but at length it disappeared, and was supposed to have 

 been killed ; when, to his great surprise, about a year after- 

 wards, as he was walking out, a Crow flying over his head, 

 in company with others, left them, and, flying towards him, 

 perched on his shoulder. He soon recognised the bird to be 

 his lost favourite ; but, though the Crow appeared very glad 

 to see its old master, it seemed to have learned the value of 

 liberty, and would not allow itself to be caught ; and at last, 



