The Carrion Crow. 77 



THE CARRION CROW. 



The Carrion Crow, that is, the real crow (Corvus 

 e.orone) since the Rook (G. frugilegus) is sometimes 

 so called commences its nidification early in March, 

 either repairing the old nest or building a new one. 

 The Carrion Crow, however ill-sounding its name or 

 wicked its propensities, has at least one virtue deserving 

 a word in its favour it is faithful in its loves. Even the 

 dove, emblem of constancy, is not more true to its mate 

 than this bird of reputation black as its plumage. And 

 while the mated birds are constant as husband and wife, 

 they are equally affectionate as father and mother ; the 

 young remaining under their protection, and possibly 

 receiving instructions from them throughout the year, 

 or until they get married themselves. The naturalist of 

 Selborne, apparently quoting from Pennant's " British 

 Zoology/' says that " Crows go in pairs the whole year 

 round/' This is an error; they are only seen in pairs 

 during the few weeks when engaged in bringing forth 

 their young, after which they are rarely ever apart from 

 these last. The family group usually numbers five or 

 six, though often there are as many as seven. If the 

 nest has been plundered no rare occurrence when boys 

 or gamekeepers are about then may the two old birds 

 be seen alone for the rest of the year. Notwithstanding 

 its name, this bird does not confine itself to eating 

 carrion, but often subsists on insects and reptiles taken 

 alive. It will even kill young rabbits and leverets. It 

 has also the repute of making free with the young fowls 

 of the farm-yard ; but I believe that much of this sort of 

 damage laid to its charge is the doing of the magpie, 

 which last sly depredator steals many a march into the 



