90 



HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



(ions, as the rook has but. too frequently suffer- 

 ed for its similitude to (he carrion-crow ; and 

 thus a harmless bird, that feeds only upon in- 

 sects and corn, has been destroyed for another 



rives its subsistence from carrion, dead fish, crabs, 

 echini, mollusca, larvae, grain, and other matters, it 

 being fully as promiscuous a feeder as the carrion-crow 

 or the raven, although it certainly prefers fish and mol- 

 lusca to large carcases, and very rarely feeds upon a 

 stranded whale, or even a domestic animal. Young 

 lambs are favourite delicacies, and in severe seasons, 

 when summer in vain struggles with winter, sometimes 

 afford an abundant temporary supply. I am not, how- 

 ever, inclined to believe that the hooded-crow often de- 

 stroys these animals, nor that it ventures to attack sickly 

 sheep. It never disputes a prize with the raven, much 

 less the eagle, nor will it advance so near to a dog as the 

 former of these birds, which it resembles in vigilance 

 and cunning, but without showing equal boldness. 



Perhaps the most remarkable habit of the hooded- 

 crow is one which most persons who have observed it 

 consider as indicative of the approach of rain, but which 

 I have not found to have any connection with that phe- 

 nomenon. In quiet, and more especially in dull close 

 weather, one of them, perched on a stone or crag, con- 

 tinues to croak for a long time, being responded to at 

 intervals by another that has taken a station at some dis- 

 tance. Its voice is not so loud or clear as that of the 

 carrion-crow, but resolves itself into a rather harsh sound 

 resembling the syllable Crnn, pronounced by a genuine 

 Aberdonian. On ordinary occasions, its flight is pecu- 

 liarly sedate, being performed by regularly-timed slow 

 heats; but when necessary, it can be greatly accelerated, 

 although it never equals in rapidity that of the raven. 

 It also walks in the same staid manner as the carrion- 

 crow and the rook, and in general wears a grave aspect, 

 demeaning itself so as if it were not disposed to indulge 

 in unbecoming levity. It rarely molests other birds, 

 nor is it often attacked by any. 



In districts frequented by it, you commonly find it 

 along the shore, sometimes among the rocks, searching 

 for crabs and shell-fish, which it has sagau'ty enough, 

 when it cannot otherwise open them, to raise in the air 

 and drop to the ground; sometimes on the sandy beach, 

 especially if fish or echini have been cast up. The lat- 

 ter are so frequently devoured by them in the Hebrides 

 that they have obtained the name of hooded-crow's cups 

 cragan-feannaig. Gulls, even the strongest, rarely 

 dispute with them on such occasions, but impatiently 

 walk about until they choose to fly off. 



Although familiar enough with this species, I have 

 never observed it mount high into the air like the raven, 

 for the purpose of sailing. Nor does it scour the hill 

 tops and sides in the same free and bold manner, but 

 rather has a skulking habit, and prefers remaining on 

 the lower grounds, especially in the vicinity of water, 

 whether fresh or salt. It searches the moors, however, 

 for eggs and young birds, and commits considerable de- 

 predations upon those of the golden plover and red 

 grouse. The eggs of gulls and terns it does not venture 

 to seize upon, knowing that these birds would join in at- 

 tacking any intruder. 



It is said by some to assemble at times in very large 

 flocks, apparently for the purpose of settling some im- 

 portant matter referring to their mutual benefit: but I 

 liave not observed any such conventions, and am dis- 

 posed to consider thiiin as merely imaginary. Nor is it 

 necessary that they should have assemblies for the pur- 

 pose of choosing partners, for, according to my observa- 

 tion, they remain paired all the year, and the young in- 

 dividuals can easily meet without having a general con- 

 vocation. Several authors talk of their building in trees ; 

 but I have never seen a hooded-crow's i;est elsewhere 



that feeds upon carrion, and is often destruc- 

 tive among young poultry. 



The manners of the raven and the carrion- 

 crow are exactly similar ; they both feed upon 



than on a rock, and generally by the sea. It is large, 

 composed of twigs, sea-weeds, heath, feathers, and straws, 

 being similar to that of the carrion-crow and raven. The 

 eggs, from four to six or seven in number, but generally 

 five, are of a regular ovate form, from an inch and a 

 half to an inch and eight twelfths long, and about one 

 and a twelfth across ; of a pale bluish-green tint, marked 

 all over, but more thickly at the large end, with oblong 

 and roundish spots of greenish-brown and pale purplish- 

 gray. They vary considerably in colour, as is the case 

 with the other species, and in a cabinet cannot be dis- 

 tinguished from those of the carrion-crow. The young 

 are at first covered with blackish-gray down. 



According to authors, this species occurs in all parts 

 of Europe, remaining stationary in the eastern and moun- 

 tainous districts, but, as M. Temminck alleges, appear- 

 ing only in September and October in the western coun- 

 tries. In the whole of Scotland it is stationary all the 

 year, although many individuals may probably migrate 

 southward; but in most parts of England it appears in 

 October, chiefly along the coast, and on the extensive 

 maritime downs, and departs in March. 



The rook is more slender and generally somewhaf 



smaller than the carrion-crow, which it greatly resembles 

 when viewed at a distance. The general form, however, 

 is moderately full. 



All day long you may find the rook in the fields or 

 pastures, diligently searching for worms and grubs, 

 breaking up and turning over the dry cow-dung with 

 its bill, thrusting it deep into the loose soil, or digging 

 among tufts of grass and clover to extract the larva; that 

 find harbour amidst their roots. At this season, you 

 often observe these birds scattered over the moorland 

 haunts of the curlew and plover, and not unfrequeiitly 

 on the sandy or muddy beaches exposed by the tide. 

 Towards evening, collecting into large straggling flocks, 

 and uttering their loud and not unpleasant cries, they 

 return to their roosts on the tall trees of some antique 

 mansion, where for ages, perhaps, their race has fixed 

 its abode. During long droughts they experience great 

 difficulty in procuring subsistence, at least in districts 

 where there is not a diversity of soil and a variety of 

 scenery, although in most parts of Scotland they have a 

 choice of ground which renders them less liable to be 

 seriously incommoded by extremes of weather. 



In their distant flights they commonly proceed at a 

 considerable height, moving with moderate speed, in a 

 straggling disorderly band, often, especially at the out- 

 set, with much noise. Their flight is of that kind which 

 1 call sedate, being performed by regularly-timed rather 

 slow beats of the expanded wings, direct, without un- 

 dulations, and capable of being greatly protracted. Some- 

 times on one of their excursions, when passing over a 

 field or meadow at a great height, something in it ap- 

 pears suddenly to attract their attention, and they de, 

 s.itiid headlong, performing singular evolutions as they 



