142 FAMILIAR WILD BIRBS 



shore or the banks o£ tidal rivers^ and is seldom to be 

 found in localities that are devoid of these features. It 

 is gregarious when in search of food, and may then be seen 

 in parties of almost any number; pairs, however, breed 

 separately. 



The Hooded Crow is not a dainty feeder, and although 

 its name is not so unpleasantly suggestive as that of the 

 Carrion Crow, there is probably but little to cboose between 

 them in the matter of diet. When vegetable matter is 

 taken as food, it is when animal substances are not forth- 

 coming, and this part of its regimen must therefore be 

 accounted more as a necessity than a virtue. Cockles, 

 mussels, and small Crustacea, dead fish, and some of the 

 smaller quadrupeds and birds, especially when wounded or 

 sickly, are amongst the favourite morsels of this almost 

 omnivorous bird : indeed, its powers of mischief in respect to 

 the poultry -yard during breeding time are so exceedingly 

 well developed, that as late as the year 1835 the different 

 local authorities of Shetland and Orkney were in the habit 

 of paying twopence for each crow killed in their districts. 

 The keepers in Scotland trap a great number during the 

 breeding season. 



Worms and grain also go to fill up the bill of fare, 

 especially maize in winter, when it is thrown down by the 

 gamekeeper for the pheasants. The Crows also feed a great 

 deal in summer upon the eggs of waterfowl, or any others 

 they can find. Their young are fed partially on young 

 or small birds. 



The practice of carrying shell-fish up to some considerable 

 height in the air, and then dropping them on the rocks 

 underneath in order to get at the inside, has been as fre- 

 quently observed in this bird as in the Carrion Crow. 



