BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 61 



\veek in June. The Carrion- and Hooded Crows as- 

 sociate for roosting ; and I believe all of both these 

 species in this immediate neighbourhood, to the num- 

 ber of several hundreds, resort during the winter season 

 to two small and lonely plantations adjoining the 

 Aylesby " beck/' which they have all to themselves, 

 as no Rooks accompany them. Here, on moonlit 

 nights, when duck-shoo ting, I have found them perched 

 by scores on all the central trees trees practically 

 unapproachable at night, from the treacherous and 

 boggy nature of the soil and the many concealed 

 "blowwells" and small drains. When the night is 

 very light, on the report of a gun they rise, and with 

 wild flappings and hoarse cries fly round and round 

 the cover. The ground under these trees is strewn 

 with their castings or pellets, mainly composed of the 

 outer skin or bran of grain, broken marine shells, and 

 fragments of chalk-stone. 



103. CORVUS CORNIX, Linnseus. Hooded Crow. 



Provincial. Hoodie, Grey-backed Crow, Denmark Crow. 



An autumn visitant, and extremely abundant du- 

 ring the winter in all the coast district, and along the 

 Humber shores. They arrive about the 7th of Octo- 

 ber, usually three or four days in advance of the 

 Woodcocks, occasionally an odd bird or two appear- 

 ing as early as the 25th of September; but these are 

 exceptional cases. The Hooded Crows probably 

 migrate both during the day and night; at least 



