EAVEN, CKOW, MAGPIE, JAY, AND ROOK. 89 



grotesque cries. We watched them till they 

 were lost to sight in the distance, the raven 

 returnincf some minutes afterwards at a great 

 height. 



The carrion crow, the hoodie crow, the mag- 

 pie, and the jay may be classed under one 

 head. They feed upon the eggs and young of 

 all the birds which are most useful to man, and 

 they were evidently intended to keep down 

 their numbers. When he begins to understand 

 how to make the best use of the blessings which 

 surround him, they had better join the masto- 

 don and the ichthyosaurus. ' Othello's occupa- 

 tion is gone.' And no services they can 

 perform as insect-destroyers make amends for 

 the injuries they commit. Besides, these services 

 are still better performed by the rook and 

 starling. Yet Mr. Waterton's disciples are fond 

 of relating how many carrion crows' nests there 

 were always at Walton Hall. This is men- 

 tioned by Mr. A. Ellis and by other witnesses 

 before this Committee. Did Mr. Waterton or 



