AUTUMN BIRD LIFE 259 



builds in colonies, like the rook among crows. So 

 that its nocking may be said to be perpetual. The 

 redwing, because of his delightful song, is known 

 as the Norwegian nightingale. 



If we include the two ousels, there are no less 

 than seven thrushes with us during the winter. 

 And, as no thrushes come to us from the South in 

 the spring, and none of our resident thrushes leave 

 on the approach of winter, we are justified in 

 regarding the type as a northern one. 



The hooded crows have sensibly increased in 

 numbers. These birds are resident in the north 

 of Scotland, migrants in the south, and in an inter- 

 mediate condition in the latitude of the Tay. 



Some confusion has arisen between the hooded 

 and carrion crows. So identical are they in haunt 

 and habit, that, but for the grey of the one, and the 

 black of the other, it would be impossible to dis- 

 tinguish them. 



" I have taken some trouble in examining these 

 birds," says Colquhoun, "and have killed crows 

 of every shade of plumage, from pure black to the 

 perfectly marked hooded crow ; and this without 

 reference to age or sex. I have also seen a perfectly 

 hooded crow paired, and breeding with one quite 

 black." This may only mean that the species are 



