130 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



skirting a wood; also some Rooks. I may state that a Rook may be 

 distinguished from a Crow by having a patch of whitish skin at the 

 base of the beak. The Rook is of a more glossy black than the 

 Crow, and is a shade smaller. Rooks nest in colonies, and go about 

 in flocks; the Crow, on the other hand, is a solitary bird, and does 

 not nest in colonies. The food of the two birds is also different, and 

 the Crow utters three caws, thus, "Caw, caw, caw," whereas the 

 Rook is not limited to three, and each note is longer in being drawn 

 out. My notes, of course, refer to the Carrion Crow, as the Hooded 

 Crow has only to be seen to be identified. 



ENTRANCE TO NEST OF NUTHATCH, 



showing how the birds filled up the hollow in the tree trunk, 

 with clay. There must have been several pounds weight of the 

 material used; quite a task for such small birds to accomplish. 



Hen Pheasant flew overhead, and "cock-up" of several males 

 heard in the woods. Ring Doves seen in the Firs; Field Mice 

 creeping in the hedges; Lapwings seen and heard. 



