266 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



and many Neapolitan violets, which are de- 

 lightfully sweet. 

 . 



9/A. When we were walking this morning in 

 the forest, Frederick made me take notice of a 

 flock of crows, which were quite different in ap- 

 pearance from the common rook. The back is 

 ash-coloured, while the head, throat, wings, and 

 tail, are black. I was surprised at my own 

 blindness in not having observed them before 5 

 but Frederick told me that they had only ar- 

 rived lately, as they change their abode twice 

 in the year. About the middle of autumn, 

 they appear in the southern parts of England 

 in flocks ; and in the beginning of spring 

 they depart in a northerly direction ; though 

 in some parts of Scotland and Ireland, they 

 remain through the whole year. This species is 

 still more familiar than the rook, and in winter 

 will go even to the yards of houses to pick up 

 food. It is called the hooded crow, or scare-crow. 

 I heard it give two cries, one was the hollow 

 hoarse note of the crow, but the other was 

 shrill, and not very unlike the crowing of a cock. 

 They are remarkable for this double cry. 



Mr. Landt, in his description of the Feroe 

 Islands, says that one or two hundred of these 

 birds sometimes assemble, as if by general con- 

 sent. A few of them sit with drooping heads, 



