62 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



especial property, and although always gentle and fond 

 of being noticed and caressed by any one, towards me 

 he showed the most devoted attachment and affection. 

 He flew after me whenever I allowed him, and was 

 never so happy as when perched upon my arm or 

 shoulder. I was wont to take him to a fine warren, 

 and he soon got quite adroit at catching rabbits. 



Often we had Merlins, Kestrels, and Sparrow-hawks 

 brought us from their nests in some wild and lofty 

 cliff by a noted and obliging cragsman, who was 

 always able and willing to supply us with almost any 

 kind of young birds we might wish for pets. All the 

 hawks we found easy to tame, docile, and intelligent ; 

 and they were consequently great favourites. But of 

 all our pets amongst the land birds, I select for special 

 notice the Hooded crow. He is not a beautiful bird, 

 certainly; but he makes up for his not handsome 

 appearance by his exceeding cleverness. Birds as a 

 general rule do not seem to be endowed with a great 

 sense of humour ; but the Hooded crow is an exception. 

 He is brimful of fun of a certain description, delighting 

 in nothing so much as practical jokes ; and withal he 

 is good-temperedj merry, and cheerful. The sly cock 

 of his head and twinkle of his keen little eye, it is 

 impossible to misinterpret ; he is continually meditat- 

 ing a trick or mischief of some sort. No bird is easier 

 to tame ; and he speedily becomes not only confident, 

 but pertly familiar and impudent. We had one in 

 particular for many years. We called him Crabbie, 

 because of his sidelong mode of progression when not 



