CHOUGH. 61 



refuses hemp-seed. He' seldom attempts to hide the re- 

 mainder of a meal. With a very considerable share of 

 attachment, he is naturally pugnacious, and the hand that 

 the moment before had tendered him food and caresses, 

 will repent an attempt to take him up. To children he 

 has an utter aversion, and will scarcely suffer them to enter 

 the garden. Even strangers of any age are challenged 

 vociferously ; he approaches all with daring impudence ; 

 and so completely does the sight of strangers change his 

 affection for the time, that even his favourites and best 

 benefactors cannot touch him with impunity in these mo- 

 ments of evident displeasure." 



This bird in a wild state feeds on insects and berries 

 and occasionally upon grain, but is seldom seen searching 

 for them in the open fields. Mr. Wallace, of Douglas, in 

 the Isle of Man, at the southern extremity of which, being 

 very rocky, these birds breed in security, and from whence 

 that gentleman had the kindness to bring me two skins, 

 tells me that he has seen them following the plough to 

 obtain the grubs of insects that are thus exposed, and in 

 the Field Naturalist's Magazine, it is recorded that in 

 August, 1832, a Red-legged Crow was killed on the Wilt- 

 shire Downs, near the Bath road, between Marlborough 

 and Calne, by a man employed in keeping birds from corn ; 

 Mr. Blyth mentions having known it to occur on Mitcham 

 Common, in Surrey. 



This bird makes a nest of sticks, lined with wool and 

 hair, in the cavities of high cliffs, or in old castles, or church 

 towers, near the sea ; laying four or five eggs of a yellow- 

 ish white colour, spotted with ash grey and light brown, 

 the length one inch eight lines, by one inch one line in 

 breadth. The voice of the Chough is shrill, but not dis- 

 agreeable, and something like that of the Oyster-catcher. 

 When on the wing at a moderate distance, the flight is 



