THE HOODED CROW. 165 



to this village, and considering their abundance in this district, it is only a 

 wonder that any game or wildfowl can rear their young at all." 



Although inclined to a solitary life during the breeding season* the Carrion- 

 Crow is seen in larger or smaller crowds during the autumn and winter ; con- 

 siderable numbers arrive on our eastern coasts in autumn. 



Seebohm's statement that this bird "makes almost as engaging a pet as the 

 Raven " hardly accords with Lord Lilford's opinion of the Carrion-Crow. The 

 following is Mr. Bonhote's experience, communicated November and, 1896 : 

 "The Hooded and Carrion- Crows are to be strictly avoided; the latter bird 

 when hand-reared is very tame and can articulate a few words, but has no 

 interesting actions or habits and scarcely moves the whole day. The former bird 

 (Grey Crow) is not only stupid, but dangerous, and is never satisfied till he has 

 the whole aviary to himself, having murdered the other inmates." 



Family COR VID&. 



THE HOODED CROW. 



Connis comix, LINN. 



"T~"*OUND throughout Europe east of about long. 10, and in Asia extends 

 north of Turkestan, throughout Asia Minor and Persia into Afghanistan, 

 and through Palestine into Egypt. Examples from the Persian Gulf have the 

 pale slate-grey replaced by nearly white, and have been called C. capellamts ; 

 but Siberian birds are intermediate in colour, and the Persian birds can only be 

 looked upon as a local race." Seebohm. 



An autumn and winter visitant to England and Wales, where a few pairs 



This bird has, however, been known to build among Rooks, but they do not appear to appreciate his 

 society. 



VOL. II. 2 D 



