STARLINGS AND CROWS 



187 



of Click Beetles (wireworms), Daddy I.ong- 

 legs. and Cockchafers are come-at-able. 

 In autumn, where oaks abound. Rooks 

 may often lie seen plundering the trees of 

 acorns ; they are equally partial to 

 walnuts, and where potatoes are grown 

 as a field crop they are apt to levy toll 

 upon the tubers. 



Both Rooks and Crows are terrible 



about the body. The smaller bird has the 

 iris white instead of dark liazel, and 

 Jack's note will soon betray his sj^ecies, 

 for the Daw is a proverbially loquacious 

 bird. 



Rooks, Crows, and Jackdaws are all 

 fond of gyrating — sweeping, circling, and 

 tumbling about in the air, especially on 

 still autumnal days ; though when these 



CAKRION CROWS NEST, WITH YOUNG. 



egg thic\-es. but the fomier are not so 

 destructive to the young of other birds 

 and animals as are the Carrion Crows, 

 which I have known to attack young 

 lambs, and the neat way in which both 

 they and Grey Crows will turn the skins 

 of rats and rabbits incide out in order to 

 pick the bones is sur])rising. 



At" a distance the Jackdaw is niudi 

 like a Grey Crow in miniature so far 

 as plumage is concerned, but on closer 

 inspection the black and the grey feather- 

 ing will be found to be not quite similar 

 either in tone of colour, or in distribution 



mana'uvres are indulged in they are said 

 (sometimes of course rightly) to presage 

 stormy weather. 



In October numerous Crow birds may 

 be seen trooping over from the Conti- 

 nent for many days together. On their 

 arrival on our eastern coast they leisurely 

 work their way inhind, flying low dowii 

 meanwhile. 



The long-tailed black and white Magpie 

 needs no further descrijition, as it cannot 

 be mistaken for any other bird. It is 

 sly and crafty to a degree, and is never 

 allowed to multiply in game -preserving 



