IV 



DOUBTFUL CHARACTERS: CROWS, MAGPIES, 

 JAYS, AND SHRIKES 



A PAIR of carrion crows would provide the 

 most earnest observer with honest work of a 

 by no means light character for a whole year ; 

 and then he would only see some of their deep 

 wiles, not all : it is impossible to fathom all the 

 depths of their nature. Not that the chance is 

 likely to offer at the present time, for a price is 

 on his head, every man's hand being against 

 him ; and the bird knows it. When he changes 

 his quarters, the flight is high. Twice only I 

 have noticed this within the last nine years ; for 

 in that time I have seen but three crows one 

 old solitary, and a pair. These were wing- 

 ing their way from a long wide range of upland 

 downs to some dreary moors situated on the 

 tops of distant hills. 



Any one that has been used to hear crows 



croak is not likely to forget that note. Like 



107 



