ROOKS AND THEIR RELATIVES 117 



only say that in my own neighbourhood, which is 

 surrounded on all sides by the Surrey hills, I have 

 never heard any complaints about him ; not even in 

 breeding time. Probably a pair or two would be 

 very useful in some places where birds have been cut 

 down by disease and lie rotting all over the land. 

 One thing is against him, he is considered a bird of 

 ill omen ; if one or a couple make up their minds to 

 settle down near any habitation, a charge of shot is 

 their certain welcome. 



It is a wonder that any are left in the country ; 

 it is said some are still to be found in the wild parts 

 o" Sussex, but I cannot vouch for the fact, though I 

 think it is very likely to be true. 



The crow, or carrion crow, is to all intents and 

 purposes a dwarf raven. In shape and plumage he 

 resembles his giant relative, and he is even more 

 reviled than the raven. Tell any gamekeeper that 

 you consider the crow a bold and handsome bird, and 

 he will either answer you with some highly seasoned 

 observations, or look at you with an expression of 

 wondering pity, and then try to enlighten your dark 

 mind as to that bird's capabilities for evil and mis- 

 chief. He hunts them from morning to night, often 

 with very little success ; a good old carrion crow is 

 not got at very easily. If a pair of them hunt to- 



