THE HOODED CEOW. 85 



14 The Carrion Crow is a sexton bold, 

 He raketh the dead from out the mould ; 

 He delveth the ground like a miser old, 

 Stealthily hiding his store of gold. 



Caw! caw! 



The Carrion Crow hath a coat of black, 

 Silky and sleek like a priest's, on his back ; 

 Like a lawyer he grubbeth no matter what way 

 The fouler the offal the richer his prey. 



Caw ! caw ! the Carrion Crow ! 



Dig ! dig ! in the ground below ! 



The Carrion Crow hath a dainty maw, 

 With savoury pickings he crammeth his craw ; 

 Kept meat from the gibbet it pleaseth his whim, 

 It never can hang too long for him. 



Caw ! caw ! 



The Carrion Crow smelleth powder, 'tis said, 

 Like a soldier escheweth the taste of cold lead ; 

 No jester in mime hath more marvellous wit, 

 For wherever he lighteth he maketh a hit. 



Caw ! caw ! the Carrion Crow ! 



Die/ ! dig ! in the ground below .'" 



10. THE HOODED CEOW. 

 Corous Cornix, LIN. Comeille Mantelee, BUF. Die Nebelkrcihe, BECH. 



Description and Peculiarities. In winter this bird is to be 

 met with in almost all parts of Germany, but in summer only 

 in the north ; when it breeds in woods and gardens near the 

 open country. The female lays four to six eggs, of a bright 

 green, streaked and spotted with brown. The bird is some- 

 what larger than the preceding, and is grey, except the head, 

 throat, wings, and tail, which are black. 



When young it speaks better than the preceding, and if taken 

 when old is more easily tamed. It is treated in the same 

 manner. 



ADDITIONAL. This species of the Corous family, which is vari- 

 ously called the Grey Dun, Bunting, Heedy Royston, or Hooded 

 Crow, the latter being its most common name is, according to 

 MACGILLIVBAY, very abundant in most parts of the northern 

 and middle divisions of Scotland and its islands, but becomes 

 rarer as we advance southwards. In many parts of England it 

 is found only during winter. " Although somewhat more social 

 than the Carrion Crow, or the Haven, it is not gregarious ; for, al- 

 though four or five individuals may often be seen together, more 

 than that number seldom convene unless when attracted by an 



