SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR BIRD STUDY. 115 



CARRION CROW (E.). This bird is frequently confused 

 with the rook. It is a slightly larger bird, without the 

 abraded patch under the bill. The bill has bristly feathers 

 along its base above. The plumage is very glossy black, 

 reflecting purplish above, greenish below. In contrast to 

 the rook its habits are more solitary, although it is occa- 

 sionally gregarious. It builds a rather bulky nest in trees 

 or on rocky places. The eggs are about If inches long, 

 light bluish grey, spotted brownish, four to six in number. 

 In habits the carrion crow resembles the raven rather than 

 the rook, frequenting moors, hilly pastures, seashore, and 

 occasionally the fields. It feeds on small birds and mam- 

 mals, worms, insects, mollusca and carrion generally. " It 

 is a great poacher of game and poultry, and will even attack 

 lambing ewes " (Aflalo). (Fig. 35). 



Make a drawing of a rook's head and a crow's head, 

 side by side. 



JACKDAW (E.). This member of the crow family mea- 

 sures about 14 inches long, is greyish black in colour, grey 

 at the neck. The head, wings, and tail are dark and 

 glossy. Bill and feet are black. Jackdaws generally nest 

 in companies, favouring old buildings, towers, etc., about 

 which they spend much of their time throughout the year. 

 They are fairly noisy birds, with quite distinctive " caw." 

 They feed chiefly on insects " wireworm " and " leather 

 jackets " but sometimes take eggs or fruit. The nestlings 

 are fed on insects. On the whole they are generally 

 regarded as beneficial birds. 



Eggs four to seven, an inch and a half long, bluish white 

 with small round dark brown spots. 



MAGPIE (E.). A bird of about 18, inches in length. 

 Head, neck, and forepart of breast black, glossy, with but 

 slight reflections. Back black, interrupted by a greyish 

 band in front of the rump. Hinder part of breast is 

 white, the legs and feet are black. Wings with a large 

 white patch next the body, secondaries with marked purple 

 and green reflections, primaries brown on outer and white 



