iqo CROWS AND ROOKS. 



looking up after its companions, again took wing, and was 

 never seen or heard of more. 



It has been observed, that they are usually of solitary 

 habits, seldom associating in greater numbers than pairs ; but 

 this rule has also its exceptions, and the following instances 

 of the mysterious assemblages of birds may be justly classed 

 amongst their most extraordinary instinctive habits. 



In the northern parts of Scotland, and in the Faroe Islands, 

 extraordinary meetings of Crows are occasionally known to 

 occur. They collect in great numbers, as if they had been all 

 summoned for the occasion ; a few of the flock sit with droop- 

 ing heads, and others seem as grave as judges, while others again 

 are exceedingly active and noisy : in the course of about an 

 hour they disperse, and it is not uncommon, after they have 

 flown away, to find one or two left dead on the spot. Another 

 writer * says, that these meetings will sometimes continue for 

 a day or two, before the object, whatever it may be, is com- 

 pleted. Crows continue to arrive from all quarters during the 

 session. As soon as they have all arrived, a very general noise 

 ensues, and, shortly after, the whole fall upon one or two 

 individuals, and put them to death : when this execution has 

 been performed, they quietly disperse. 



Another and nearly similar meeting was witnessed near 

 Oggersheim, a small village on the banks of the Khine ; where 

 in a large meadow, every autumn, the Storks assemble, to hold 

 (as the country people call it) a council, just before their 

 annual migration. On one of these occasions about fifty were 

 observed, formed in a ring round one individual, whose appear- 

 ance bespoke great alarm. One of the party then seemed to 

 address the conclave, by clapping its wings for about five 

 minutes. It was followed by a second, a third, and a fourth, 

 in regular succession, each, like the first, clapping its wings in 

 the same odd and significant manner. At last they all joined 

 in chorus, and then with one accord fell upon the poor culprit 

 in the middle, and despatched him in a few seconds ; after 

 which they rose up in a body, and one, according to their 

 custom, taking the lead, flew off to the southward. This 

 * Dn. Edmonston's Shetland Js>ks. 



