BIRDS 127 



utter a hoarse, croaking note, and feeds on fish, especially eels, for which it 

 dives. It is a large species, 3 feet in length, to be found on most of our pre- 

 cipitous coasts, where it breeds in colonies on ledges or islets. It is to be found 

 also on some of our larger inland waters; and though not breeding in such 

 situations in England, it is known elsewhere to nest on islands in lakes, and 

 even to build in trees. The nests are made of sticks and other material, and 

 seaweed, and are generally very offensive. 



The bird, like the others of its family, has webbed toes, a straight, hooked 

 bill, and short legs. In the breeding season it has a crest of white plumes and 

 white collar ; also a white mark on the thigh. The eggs are blue, with a 

 chalky incrustation. 



Crow, Carrion (CORBIE, GORCROW). The only difference between this bird 

 and the Hooded Crow is that this is black and the other Hack and grey. They 

 are so akin as to interbreed, especially on the Continent. The Carrion Crow is 

 general throughout England, not uncommon in Scotland, but absent from 

 Ireland. It nests in trees and on cliffs, building a large nest of sticks, roots, etc., 

 lined with fur, wool, grass, etc. It lays four or five eggs, greenish white, thickly 

 spotted and blotched with greenish and reddish brown. The bird is usually 

 seen singly or in pairs, and builds solitary nests, unlike the Rook. The note 

 is a hoarse croak or caw. Food, as Hooded Crow. 



Crow, Hooded. Distinguished by its grey back and under parts. Is found in 

 Ireland and the North of Scotland, but is rare in England, although in winter 

 large numbers from the Continent visit the Eastern and Northern Counties. 

 The nest and eggs are like those of the former. The food is practically " every- 

 thing and anything " carrion ; young, weakly animals, such as lambs ; small 

 rodents, birds, eggs, fruit, and grain. 



Curlew. This bird is known by its whistling cry, resembling its name, 

 " Curlew " " Too-ee, too-ee, too-ee " ; its winter cry being expressed " Quoi-ee, 

 quoi-ee." Like the Whimbrel (a much smaller bird), it is distinguished by its 

 down-curved, long bill. Its colour is brown, with narrow dark centres to the 

 feathers ; white rump with black streaks ; tail nearly white, with black bars ; 

 under parts white with black streaks. It is common on the coast in winter, 

 but breeds inland on uplands and moorlands where there are soft, boggy patches. 

 The nest is a shallow depression, scantily lined, the four eggs being olive-brown, 

 well marked with darker brown. The food consists of insects, their larvae, 

 worms, snails, etc. ; on the shore, sandworms and small shellfish. 



Diver, Black-throated. This is a much rarer bird than the two following, 

 not unlike the Great Northern Diver, but smaller in size and having a smaller 

 bill. It may be distinguished by its grey head and purple-black throat. The 

 back is like that of the Great Northern Diver black, with rows of white spots ; 

 there are two patches of white with dark stripes on neck ; under parts white. 

 In " winter " plumage, the colours become browner. It nests only in Scotland, 

 but is found round our coasts in winter, though not commonly. It nests on 

 islands on mountain lochs, close to the water's edge, laying two eggs, deep 



