THE CROW. 



89 



to be found between them lies in the bill of 

 the rook ; which, by being frequently thrust 

 into the ground to fetch out grubs and earth- 

 worms, is bare of feathers as far as the eyes, 



birds; in sagacity he is not excelled by any other spe- 

 cies ; and his power of vision is at least equal to that of 

 most others, not excepting the birds of prey, for he is 

 generally the first to discover a carcase. To man, how- 

 ever, he seems to be more injurious than useful, as he is 

 accused of killing sickly sheep, sometimes destroys 

 lambs, and frequently carries off the young and eggs of 

 domestic poultry. For this reason he is generally pro- 

 scribed, and in many districts a price is put upon his 

 head ; but his instinct and reason suffice to keep the race 

 from materially diminishing. As his flesh is not pala- 

 table, it is not probable that he could be useful in the do- 

 mestic state. He seems to have fewer feathered ene- 

 mies than most other birds ; for although he may often 

 be seen pursuing gulls, hawks, and eagles, I have never 

 observed any species attacking him, with the exception 

 of the domestic cock, which I have seen give battle to 

 him, and even drive him off. It has been alleged, how- 

 ever, that rooks assail him in defence of their young, 

 and there is nothing incredible in this, for the weakest 

 bird will often in such a case attack the most powerful 

 and rapacious. 



The carrion-crow is so intimately allied to the raven, 



that, without considering its inferior size, and some dif- 

 ferences in the forms of the feathers, one might be apt 

 to confound the two species. Its proportions are almost 

 the same as those of the raven, the body being ovate, 

 rather full and compact; the neck short and strong; the 

 head large, oblong, and somewhat convex above. 



The carrion-crow is very uncommon in the northern 

 and middle parts of Scotland; but in the southern divi- 

 sion of that country, and in England, is much more nu- 

 merous than the raven or the hooded-crow. It roosts in 

 trees and on rocks, betakes itself in search of food to the 

 open moors, hilly pastures, fields, and shores, and preys 

 on small quadrupeds, young hares and rabbits, young- 

 birds, eggs, crustacea, mollusca, worms, grubs, and 

 grain. Its principal food however is carrion of all kinds ; 

 and it not unfrequently destroys young lambs and sickly 

 sheep. Montagu states that he has seen it pursue a 

 pigeon, and strike one dead from the top of a barn. As 

 a proof of its being occasionally granivorous, like the 

 raven, I may mention that I found the stomach of one 

 that had been trapped in Linlithgowshire in November 

 1834, filled with oat seeds. 



The crow is in general a solitary bird, or rather keeps 

 in pairs, although, when there is an abundant supply of 

 food, several individuals may occasionally be seen toge- 

 ther. Its flight is similar to that of the raven, being 

 generally sedate and direct, performed by regularly-timed 

 flaps, the wings stretched out to their full extent, so that 

 the outer primaries are separated for nearly half their 

 length. Its mode of walking is also similar, and its cry 

 is a croak, clearer and less sonorous than that of the 

 raven. At a distance it is not easily distinguishable 

 from the rook; but one who attends to small differences 

 of form and habits may readily distinguish the two spe- 

 cies. The rook is less compact, and the feathers of its 

 abdominal region project more, while its mode of walk- 

 ing is quicker, and it keeps its bill more inclined 

 towards the ground. At hand, the species are very 

 easily distinguished, the rook having a bill of a different 

 form, and the feathers at its base being abraded. Al- 



VOL. II. 



and appears of a whitish colour. It differs 

 also in the purple splendour or gloss of its fea- 

 thers, which in the carrion-crow are of a dirty 

 black. Nor is it amiss to make those distinc- 



though it is said by several ornithologists to breed with 

 the carrion-crow, and has even been considered by some 

 to be of the same species, I have never seen it consort- 

 ing with that bird, even casually. 



It nestles in rocks and tall trees, beginning as early as 

 February to construct or repair its nest, which is bulky, 

 composed of twigs, and lined with moss, straws, wool, 

 hair, and other soft materials. The eggs are from four 

 to six, of a rather elongated ovate form, pale bluish-green, 

 spotted and blotched with dark umber or clove-brown and 

 purplish-grey. Sometimes the eggs are nearly destitute 

 of spots, and occasionally they are closely freckled all 

 over with light brown. 



This species is easily distinguished from the raven, by 

 its inferior size, and the shortness of the anterior cervi- 

 cal feathers. From the rook it is still more easily dis- 

 tinguished, the bristly feathers over the bill remaining 

 entire in it, while in that bird they are abraded; the 

 texture and tints of the plumage are also different, as 

 will be seen on comparing the descriptions. The car- 

 rion-crow is much more nearly allied to the American 

 crow, Corvus Americanus, with which it had been con- 

 sidered identical, until the differences were pointed out 

 by Mr Audubon; (see Ornith. Biogr. vol. ii. p. 323.) I 

 have carefully compared skins of the two species, and 

 am convinced that they are different. 



It is easily tamed, and in a state of domestication 

 shows the same thieving propensities as the raven and 

 jackdaw, carrying off to some hiding-place whatever 

 articles strike its fancy. In activity and liveliness he 

 is intermediate between the birds just mentioned ; like 

 them he may be taught to imitate the human voice ; 

 and his actions afford amusement to those who are fond 

 of feathered pets, as he becomes very familiar with his 

 friends, repels his canine foes, and contrives to console 

 himself for the loss of liberty in the best way he can, 

 although if his wings are left uncut he generally endea- 

 vours to regain his freedom. 



According to Temminck, the carrion-crow is dispersed 

 over the whole extent of Western Europe, but is rare iu 

 the eastern parts. It has not been found in America. 



The hooded-crow is so closely allied to the carrion- 



crow, that, were the colours the same in both, it would 

 be almost impossible to distinguish them. Some per- 

 sons indeed have considered the two as probably forming 

 only a single species ; but in this opinion I do not agree 

 with them, for reasons to be presently stated. The ge- 

 neral form and size are about the same as those of the 

 species just mentioned. The bill is almost precisely 

 similar, or, if different at all, it is perhaps not quite so 

 robust. 



The hooded-crow is very abundant in the Hebrides, 

 the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and most parts of the 

 northern and middle divisions of Scotland ; but is rare 

 in the southern division, and gradually diminishes as we 

 proceed southward. It is not confined to the coast, but 

 is met with in the very centre of the Grampians, and 

 other inland districts; but in winter few individuals are 

 found in the interior. Although somewhat more social 

 than the carrion-crow or the raven, it is not gregarious, 

 for although four or five individuals may often be seen 

 together, more than that number seldom convene unless 

 when attracted by an abundant supply of food. It de- 



