THE CARllION CROW. '^^'-^ 



twelfth day after bursting the shell, when they have only half their feathers. 

 They are fed on iiieat, snails, worms, and bread soaked in milk ; after a 

 little time they will cat bread, meat, and any refuse from the table. In its 

 wild state the raven eats leverets, birds' eggs, mice, young goslings, 

 cliickens, and snails, and even pears, cherries, and other fruit ; this shows 

 us that it is rather hurtful as well as useful. 



THE CARRION CROW. 



Corvus corone, Linn-eus ; La Correille, Buffon ; Die Schwarze Krahe, 

 Bechstein. 



It only differs from the preceding in its size, and in the tail 

 bemg rounded instead of wedge-shaped. Its whole length is 

 eighteen inches. Its plumage is black, with some tints of 

 violet on the upper part of the body. 



Peculiar Qualities. — The carrion crow is one of the commonest birds; 

 in the groves, which it likes best, it congregates in such numbers that 

 twenty nests have been built on the same tree * ; the eggs are spotted 

 •with grey or olive brown on a green ground. The young may be taken 

 from the nest in the month of March, or even earlier if the vdnter be mild 

 they are treated and fed like the former species. The carrion crow is even 

 more easily tamed, for I have seen old ones, which have been taught to go 

 and come, and others in their wild state, which have regularly fed in the 

 yard going in the spring to breed in the woods, and returning at the 

 beginning of the winter to pass that season in a domestic state. Insects, 

 worms, mice, fruit, and grain form its principal food in its wild state. 



Mode of Taking. — The easiest and most usual method is with paper 

 cones, at the bottom of which is put a bit of meat, and bird-lime ou the 

 inner edges. It may also be caught with lime twigs placed in the yard, or 

 before the house, on horse dung and among scattered grain. 



THE HOODED CROW. 



Corvus Comix, Linn^us ; La Corneille Mantelee, Buffon ; Die Nebelkrahe. 

 Bechstein. 



This species, a little larger than the preceding, is grey, with 

 the head, throat, wings, and tail black. In the winter it is 

 found over almost all Europe, but during summer it inhabits 



* The rook, ( Corvus frugilegus , Linnaeus,) seems here to be confounded with the 

 carrion crow. I say nothing about this species, as I hare never heard of one being 

 tamed or instructed. It is about the size of the carrion crow, and chiefly differs 

 from it in the base of the beak being naked, and having a rough scabrous 

 skin. — Translator. 



