168 BRITISH BIRDS WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



remembers that all these fellows, impudent as they are cunning, do nothing else 

 during the long summer days, from early dawn to sunset, but plunder the nests 

 of other birds, from the Lark to the Eagle (Dresser), one would indeed wonder 

 that there are still any birds, other than Hooded Crows, left in the world. By 

 all means let us nurture and protect our little bird friends in every possible 

 manner, more especially by abstaining from destroying any small shrubbery or 

 bush, the sole use of which may, perhaps, be that it affords some small songster 

 a hidden nook for its nest ; above everything, however, let us aim at compassing 

 the destruction of Hooded Crows unsparingly, year in year out, by all the means 

 placed at our command." 



The nidification of this species is similar to that of the Carrion Crow ; in 

 Ireland it commences about the middle of March, but in Scotland later; the nest 

 does not differ from that of C. corone, and is similarly situated, although it has 

 been found built on the roofs of huts, according to Gray. The eggs are precisely 

 like those of the Carrion Crow in all their varieties. 



The cries of this species and of C. corone are indistinguishable, and the food 

 is the same ; but the Hooded Crow is bolder and even more destructive. 



Dixon is the only Ornithologist who seems to have a good word to say for 

 this Crow; he says: "I must confess that, in spite of the dark tales of plunder 

 and his questionable mode of getting a livelihood, the Hooded Crow is a favourite 

 bird of mine, and his habits and regular movements never fail to interest me." 

 Many readers of his life have doxibtless held similar views with regard to Jack 

 Sheppard. 



As a matter of fact there appears to be no redeeming point in the character 

 of the Hoodie, he is a scourge when wild and when kept as a pet ; not only 

 useless, but dangerous so long as he is alive : when dead, however, Herr Ga'tke 

 tells us that the Heligolanders esteem him as an article of food. Lord Lilford 

 says that " the habits of the bird are always abominable, and although, from the 

 accident of its not nesting in our county, we are not exposed to the detriment 

 from this thief to which those dwelling on the other side of the Tweed are 

 subject, we have no plea to urge in defence of the Grey Crow, and hold him as 

 a sturdy vagrant to be summarily dealt with at all times and in all places. We 

 should be sorry to exterminate any bird ; but this one could be better spared than 

 any other with which we are acquainted." 



