CHAPTER VII 



CARRION-CROW OWLS SHRIKE LAPWING- 

 SNIPE WOODCOCK 



THE word " Crow " is used in a general sense by 

 country people to describe almost any bird of 

 black plumage ; but, strictly speaking, it means 

 the Carrion-Crow, which in its habits is very 

 different from the Rook, although to a casual 

 observer they may appear to be very similar. The 

 old Rook can be distinguished by having a bare 

 patch of skin surrounding the base of the bill. In 

 the young this is absent until after their second 

 moult, and it might be difficult to distinguish one 

 from the other ; but there is still a sure way of 

 distinguishing between the two species providing 

 it is possible somewhat closely to examine them. 

 The gloss on the feathers of the Crow is purple on 

 the back, green on the head and throat, while the 

 black plumage of the Rook is glossed with blue. 



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