1 88 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



There is also another variety, the fire-crested 

 wren, but I do not remember having ever seen 

 it alive. Colonel Irby describes it as a scarce 

 straggler to this country. The crest of this 

 bird is flame-coloured, and there is a whitish 

 streak over the eye. It is longer than the gold 

 crest by half an inch, the latter measuring but 

 three inches and a half. 



If the golden-crested wren is the smallest of our 

 British birds, the crow is one of the largest. Of 

 this family the Corvidae there are nine varieties, 

 viz. : 



1. The chough. 



2. The nutcracker. 



3. The jay. 



4. The magpie. 



5. The jackdaw. 



6. The raven. 



7. The carrion crow. 



8. The hooded crow. 



9. The rook. 



Of these, the first two (the chough and nut- 

 cracker) are rare, the latter especially so. The 

 chough, which is very local, is found only on 

 rocky coasts, such as those of Devon and Corn- 

 wall. It is easily identified by its red bill, feet, 

 and legs. 



With the jay and magpie everyone is well 

 acquainted ; and very beautiful birds they are, 

 though both of them are most terrible poachers. 



