BRITISH BIRDS 



I. ORDER: PASSERIFORMES 



(1) Family: Corvidce Crows 



1. Raven [Corvus corax corax Linnaeus]. More or less 

 stationary in hilly or coast districts. 



Bird. Length 25 in. Black all over with purplish and blue 

 gloss. Distinguished from the carrion-crow by its larger size 

 and the more rounded end of the tail. 

 Nest. Usually on sea cliffs, also 

 in high trees, rarely in ruins. Out- 

 side: sticks, roots, stems, sea-weed, 

 earth. Inside : wool, fur, hair, fibres, 

 grass, &c. 



Eggs. Usually 4-6. Greenish, 

 sometimes blue blotched and flecked 

 with brown to black, and with under- 

 lying markings of ash-grey. Av. 

 size, 1-98 x 1'32 



rsj 



Fig. 1. 



in. Laying begins in Feb.-March. One 

 brood. 



2. Carrion-crow [Corvus corone corone 

 Linnseus]. Resi- 

 dent, except in 



Ireland and the 

 Isle of Man. Rare 

 N. Scotland. 



Bird. Length 



19 in. All black with purple and 

 green reflections. End of tail less 

 round than raven's. Bill stouter than 

 rook's. (Fig. 2.) 



Nest. Usually in trees or on cliffs. As 

 raven. 



Eggs. Usually 4-5. Like raven's, but 

 smaller. Av. size, 1 '71 x 1-18 in. Laying begins in April. 

 One brood. 



3. Hooded-crow, Royston-crow, grey-crow [Corvus comix 



Fig. 2. 



