CORVIX^S. CORVUS. 105 



not only higher at the base, but more elongated, and in form 

 more attenuated at the end. The principal reason for admit- 

 ting its specific difference is, that all the individuals described 

 by authors agree in the distribution of the colours, although 

 some slight variations occur in them. It is possible, however, 

 that this Pied Raven may be merely a variety of the common 

 or black species. 



Male, 25, .., .., 3 T \, 2|, 2, I/*. 



An individual seen by me in the island of Harris, one of 

 the outer Hebrides, is the only one hitherto observed in Bri- 

 tain. It frequented for several weeks the Hill of Northtown, 

 did not associate with other birds, and seemed a neglected or 

 persecuted stranger. The above brief description is taken 

 from a specimen presented to me by Dr L. Edmonstone of 

 Shetland, who procured it from Ferroe, to which this species 

 or variety is peculiar. 



White Raven. Ferroe Raven. 



Corvus albus borealis, Briss. Ornith. vi. Suppl. 33. Corvus 

 leucophaeus, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. iii. 745. Corvus leuco- 

 phaeus, Pied Raven, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, iii. 745. 



49. CORVUS CORONE. CARRION Cnow. 



Feathers of the throat short, ovato-lanceolate, compact; 

 tail straight, slightly rounded ; plumage black, highly glossed, 

 with purple reflections above, and green beneath. Young 

 similar, but less glossy. 



Male, 22, 41J, 14, 2J, Ij, f. Female, 20, 40. 



Not very uncommon in many parts of England, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. This species resembles the Raven in its habits, 

 frequenting open moors, hilly pastures, the fields, and shores, 

 and feeding on small quadrupeds, young birds, Crustacea, 

 mollusca, worms, grubs, and grain, but especially carrion. It 

 is rather solitary, although occasionally gregarious ; nestles 

 in rocks and tall trees, forming a bulky nest, and laying from 

 four to six eggs, which are pale bluish-grey, spotted and 

 blotched with dark umber or clove brown, and purplish-grey, 

 an inch and three-quarters in length, and an inch and two- 

 twelfths in breadth. It is said sometimes to pair with the 

 next species, and some individuals, apparently ignorant of both, 

 have considered them as specifically identical. 



Crow. Gor Crow. Black Crow. Corby Crow. Hoody. 

 Bran. 



Corvus Corone, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 155. Corvus Corone, 

 Temm. Man. d'Ornith. i. 108. Corvus Corone, Carrion Crow, 

 MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, i. 516. 



