236 CROWS AND ROOKS. 



the chain after the Raven, which it resembles far more 

 nearly than it does the Rook. The male and his mate, 

 for example, seldom associate with the rest of their 

 species, except, as we shall show by-and-by, for par- 

 ticular purposes, but generally remain in pairs ; their 

 favourite food too, like the Raven, is carrion, and 

 they will watch their opportunity, and pounce down 

 on young lambs, or even sheep, when they find them, 

 what is called, cast : that is, thrown upon their backs 

 in a furrow, and unable to rise. In these cases, the 

 eye is the point which they first attack; but smaller 

 living prey they will also attempt to carry off, to be 

 devoured at leisure. A person walking near a plan- 

 tation, heard a shrill cry, and running in to find out 

 the cause, discovered a Crow fastening itself on a 

 young rabbit, weighing from half to three quarters 

 of a pound, which was making great efforts to release 

 itself, but in vain ; for the Crow actually caught it 

 up and bore it away across two or three fields. 

 Such is their favourite food, but when pressed by 

 hunger, they will also feed on potatoes, barley, or, in 

 short, whatever comes within their reach. 



The Rook, on the other hand, is a social bird, 

 passing its days with those relations and friends 

 amongst whom it was born and bred; and for its food, 

 preferring a vegetable diet, or such insects as it can 

 collect under the sod of the meadow, or pick up in 

 its progress over a fallow or fresh-ploughed field. 

 There is one intermediate link seen in parts of 

 England between the Carrion Crow and the Rook : 

 namely, the Hooded-gray or Royston Crow. They are 

 clever birds, and when frequenting the sea-shore, in 

 search of shell-fish, may be frequently seen, after 



