THE CROWS. 15 



Adult Male. Steel-black above and below, with a purplish 

 shade ; on the head and neck a green gloss ; throat-feathers 

 purplish, and lanceolate in shape ; bill and legs black ; iris 

 brown. Total length, 19 inches; culmen, 2*15; wing, 13*0; 

 tail, 8*0; tarsus, 2 '5. 



Sexes alike. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but the whole plumage more 

 dingy in colour. 



Range in Great Britain. Generally distributed, but more plen- 

 tiful in some parts than in others, especially in the north and 

 west. Rare in Ireland and generally replaced by the Hooded 

 Crow. A considerable migration to the east coast occurs 

 in autumn. 



Range outside the British Islands. Generally but locally distri- 

 buted over Europe, but not occurring far north, while it is an 

 inhabitant only of the more northern parts of the Mediterranean 

 countries. Many naturalists recognise the Carrion Crow of 

 Eastern Siberia as a distinct species (Corone orientalis], and it 

 is probably this species which interbreeds with the Siberian 

 Hooded Crow (Corone sharp it) in the valley of the Yenisei, 

 as recorded by Mr. Seebohm (Br. B., i., p. 547). Like the 

 Raven, which it much resembles in appearance and habits, the 

 Carrion Crow is an omnivorous bird, and it will prey upon any- 

 thing that comes in its way, young birds, sickly lambs, eggs of 

 game-birds, rodents of all sizes, garbage, sea-shells, etc. Occa- 

 sionally the Crows assemble in flocks like Rooks, and, like the 

 latter, atone for their misdeeds by devouring insects and grubs. 



Nest. Generally built in a tall and isolated tree, about the 

 middle of April, but sometimes in rocks, and when these suit- 

 able situations do not occur, the nest will be placed on the 

 ground. In structure it resembles that of the Hooded Crow. 



Eggs. Three to six in number, very similar in size and colour 

 to those of the Hooded Crow, but the bluish ground-colour 

 generally rather brighter. As with the eggs of C. cornix, there 

 are many varieties in which the spots are sparsely distributed, 

 and in some instances the mottlings show a tendency to crowd 

 together at the larger end of the egg. Axis, i '6-1*9 inch; 

 diarn , 1*1-1*25. 



