SPRING-TIME ON THE MOUNTAINS. 67 



hill, probably to continue their fight in the aerial 

 arena until one of the combatants was conquered. 

 On our way down the hills we come upon a 

 curious assemblage of the Crow tribe. Five 

 Hooded Crows, two Carrion Crows, and a Raven, 

 startled at our approach, rise hurriedly from the 

 broken ground below a steep cliff on the hillside. 

 Where the Crows are, there will the carrion be. 

 A dead sheep, in an advanced state of decompo- 

 sition, is lying among the heather, and the foraging 

 sable rascals, attracted by the stench, have swooped 

 down upon the prize. I never see an assemblage 

 of this kind without thinking of Waterton's mas- 

 terly defence of the Vulture's nose. The Crows 

 are equally gifted with great powers of scent, and 

 can smell the carrion from afar. I have re- 

 peatedly known a dead sheep to be among the 

 rocks until decomposed before the carrion birds 

 discover it ; and I have more than once hidden 

 such an animal among the long heather, and have 

 never known these birds to visit or discover it 

 until the effluvia has betrayed its whereabouts. 

 My experience with the Griffon Vultures in 

 Northern Africa also led me to the same con- 

 clusions. On the other hand, Crows are the most 

 prying of birds, and often discover a carcase by 

 accident whilst foraging among the hills. The 

 Raven is the shyest of the party, and hurries off 

 down the glen, grumbling to himself as he goes ; 

 the Carrion Crows fly round and round, awaiting 

 our departure ; but the Hoodies impudent 



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