THE ROOK. 87 



it is not. It seems likely that the passage which we have quoted 

 from LANDT, in reference to the holding of " a Crow Court," may 

 refer to these birds, and not to the Carrion Crow : for MUDIE 

 speaks of their assembling in large numbers, as if for the purpose 

 of some solemn inquisition, previous to their dispersion for the 

 breeding season, and these meetings, he thinks, have reference to 

 offices of love and gallantry ; then it is that they choose their 

 males, and settle their quarrels of rivalry, which sometimes have 

 fatal terminations. 



The author last quoted, also tells us, that " in the south the 

 Hooded Crows usually appear in small flocks, and come not only 

 to the corn-fields, but to the neighbourhood of villages, and even of 

 towns, gather any garbage they can find, and play the scavenger 

 in the kennels, and at the lay-stalls. On the sea-shore they are 

 not uncommon, where they pick up dead fish and birds, or any 

 sort of animal substance, no matter how decayed or putrid, that 

 may have been left grounded by the tide. * * * * 



" They also prowl about the preserves, warrens, and pastures, 

 and if they find any animal in a disabled or weakly state, they 

 punch out its eyes, and if they are not able to kill it on the spot, 

 leave it to perish, and return to the carrion at their leisure. In 

 the north they carry on similar depredations during the whole 

 summer. The number of eggs and young birds of Grouse and 

 other species which they destroy, is very great, and in some places 

 of the Highlands, and the northern isles, especially in the Feroe 

 Islands, they rob the ground of the seed corn and the potatoes." 



11. THE BOOK. 



Corvus Frugilegus, LIN. Le Freux ou 'la Frayonne, BUF. Die Saal- 

 terahe, BLCH. 



Although no notice of the Book occurs in the work which 

 forms the basis of the present volume, yet is it a bird whose 

 associations with man and his labours are so intimate and well 

 known, that we cannot well omit giving some account of its habits 

 and characteristics. To the British naturalist there is perhaps 

 no more interesting and important member of the corvus tribe 

 than this ; certainly none that has attracted a greater share of 

 attention. It is described by MACGILLIVBAY as having the 

 " feathers of the fore part of the head and throat abraded, 

 plumage black, splendent, with purple, blue and green reflec- 

 tions ; that of the neck blended, silky, steel-blue, purple and 

 green ; the bill attenuated towards the tip. Young, with the 

 head entirely feathered, the plumage black, less glossy. The 



