PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 3 



of Man, and only of rare occurrence in the north of Scotland. For more 

 exact details the works of Diederich (Die geographische Verbreitung der eckten 

 Raben, 1884-8) and Matschie (Jour, fur Orniih., 1887, p. 617) should be consulted. 

 Although it has been asserted that this species is also found in the Balkan 

 Peninsula, the statement is probably erroneous. A closely allied race inhabits 

 E. Asia and Japan. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. Flocks from the opposite coast of the Continent arrive from 

 September to November on our south-east shores, from Kent to the Humber, 

 subsequently spreading over the eastern counties. These immigrants are seen 

 returning to their continental breeding grounds from early in February to mid- 

 April (Brit. Assoc. Report, 1903, p. 298.) [F. B. K.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : when inland, almost always in trees 

 where they exist, on cliff-ledges by the sea, bushes, also occasionally on the 

 ground in treeless districts. Nest : as the raven's, but smaller. (PL n.) Both sexes 

 share in its construction. The eggs, usually 4-5, rarely 6, in number, resemble those 

 of the raven, but are smaller. They are greenish, flecked with various shades of 

 brown and ashy grey, and it is not uncommon to find one egg much lighter than 

 the rest. A variety with a blue ground, sometimes without markings, is also 

 found. (PI. A.) Average size of 100 eggs, 1*71 x 1-18 in. [43-5x30'l mm.]. 

 Laying begins in April. Both sexes incubate. Period of incubation 18-21 days. 

 The young remain in the nest 4-5 weeks (S. E. Brock, in litt. ; A. Taylor, in litt.). 

 One brood. [F. c. R. J. F. B. K.] 



5. Food. As the raven, old and young. Both parents share in feeding the 

 latter. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. See p. 19. 



HOODED-CROW \G6rvus cornix, Linnaeus. Royston-crow, hoody, grey- 

 crow, greyback, dun-crow, Denmark-crow, saddleback-crow, chough. 

 French, corbeau mantele ; German, Nebel-rdbe or Nebelkrahe ; Italian, 

 cornacchia]. 



1. Description. Distinguished from the carrion-crow only by its grey 

 mantle and underparts. The female is smaller and duller. The young do not 

 develop the purple and green reflections till after the first autumn moult. 

 Hybrids of C. corone and C. cornix show every gradation between the two species. 

 (PL 2.) [F. B. K.] 



2. Distribution. On the Continent it is plentiful in Scandinavia and 



