CROW. Corvus Curone. 



THE common CAKRION CEOW, so plentiful in this country, much resembles in habits 

 and appearance the bird which has just been described, and may almost be reckoned as a 

 miniature raven. 



In many of its customs the Crow is very raven-like, especially in its love for carrion, and 

 its propensity for attacking the eyes of any dead or dying animal. Like the raven, it has 

 been known to attack game of various kinds, although its inferior size forces it to call to 

 its assistance the aid of one or more of its fellows before it can successfully cope with the 

 larger creatures. Rabbits and hares are frequently the prey of this bird, which pounces 

 on them as they steal abroad to feed, and while they are young is able to kill and carry them 

 off without difficulty. The Crow also eats reptiles of various sorts, frogs and lizards being 

 common dainties, and is a confirmed plunderer of other birds' nests, even carrying away 

 the eggs of game and poultry by the simple device of driving the beak through them and 

 flying away with them thus impaled. Even the large egg of the duck has thus been 

 stolen by the Crow. Sometimes it goes to feed on the seashore, and there finds plenty of 

 food among the crabs, shrimps, and shells that are found near low-water mark, and 

 ingeniously cracks the harder shelled creatures by flying with them to a great height 

 and letting them fall upon a convenient rock. 



The Crow, unlike the rook, is not a gregarious bird, being generally seen either single 

 or in pairs, or at the most only in little bands of four or five, consisting of the parents 

 and their children. In the autumn evenings, however, they assemble in bands of ten or 

 twelve before going to roost, and make a wonderful chattering, as if comparing notes of 

 the events which have occurred during the day, and communicating to each other their 

 latest experiences, for the benefit of the rising generation. 



The nest of the Crow is invariably placed in some tree remote from the habitations of 

 other birds, and is a structure of considerable dimensions, and very conspicuous at a 

 distance. It is always fixed upon one of the topmost branches, so that to obtain the 

 eggs safely requires a steady head, a practised foot, and a ready hand, the uncultivated 

 germs of the professional acrobat. 



Generally the nest is rather loosely constructed, and more saucer than cup shaped; but 

 I remember an instance where it was very firmly made and quite deep. In a little copse in 



