THE NESTS OF CROWS 141 



boldened at such a time, will enter a farmyard to 

 carry off a young fowl or duck such as they can 

 obtain. 



In the reign of Henry VIII. a law was passed 

 for the destruction of Crows and Rooks, as owing 

 to their great numbers they were deemed injurious 

 to farmers. Every hamlet was to provide Crow- 

 nets for ten years, and at certain fixed times the 

 inhabitants concerned had to meet and discuss 

 the advisability of using any fresh ways, such 

 as occurred to them, of killing these supposed 

 damaging trespassers. 



The Crow, as a rule, builds far away from birds 

 of its own species, but where its own kind are 

 numerous several nests will sometimes be found 

 together. I have seen three only a few yards 

 apart in a small group of tall trees. The nests are 

 very thickly lined with sheep's wool or any soft 

 material to be had ; and the builders take a long 

 time in completing their work. I knew of a pair 

 that were engaged for a fortnight on the arduous 

 labour of lining alone. The picture is from a nest 

 that was deserted by its owners, and as it was 

 impossible to photograph it in its lofty and slender 

 position so that the eggs might be seen, the branch 

 on which the nest was placed was cut off, but it 

 suffered somewhat severely in its descent, and in 



