:j [, HAVEN. 



The note is, as is so well known, a harsh croak, or rather 

 'craugh,' which word it resembles, and is doubtless the origin 

 of. It lias also a different sound, uttered when maneuvering 

 in the air; and others rendered by 'clung,' 'clong,' or 'cung,' 

 and 'whii-ur.' 



Nidification commences early, even in the coldest climates; 

 here sometimes so soon as January, and the eggs have been 

 taken in the middle of Februar}^ Incubation lasts about 

 twenty days: the male and female both sit, and the former 

 feeds and attends upon the latter. 



The nest, which is large, and composed of sticks, cemented 

 together with mud, and lined with roots, wool, fur, and such 

 materials, is placed in .various situations in the clefts of the 

 branches of tall trees, church towers, caves, cliffs, and precipices. 

 The mausoleum in the park of Castle Howard, the seat of 

 Lord Carlisle, in Yorkshire, is still resorted to for the purpose. 



The eggs are four or five, six or seven, in number, of a 

 bluish green colour, blotted with stains of a darker shade, or 

 brown. The young are generally fledged about the end of 

 March, or beginning of April. 



Male; weight, about two pounds seven ounces; length, about 

 two feet two inches; bill, black; iris, grey, with an outer circle 

 of brown; bristles extend over more than half the bill. The 

 whole plumage is black, glossed on the upper part with blue. 

 The wings extend to the width of four feet four inches; the 

 first feather is short, the fourth the longest, the third and 

 fifth nearly as long, and longer than the second. The tail 

 consists of twelve feathers, rounded at the ends, and slightly 

 bent upwards; legs and toes, black and plated. Claws, black 

 and much curved. 



Pied varieties occasionally have occurred, and one has been 

 seen entirely white. 



