FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 3 



Park, Brighton. Carrion Crows had bred in the same 

 spot for several previous years, and a pair were breeding 

 there at the commencement of 1884. 



The Carrion Crow is of a very shy and wary disposi- 

 tion, with a strong disinclination to be watched; indeed, 

 a person might remain near its nest for hours (even when 

 it contained the young birds) without catching a glimpse 

 of either of the parents. It is highly probable, from its 

 general resemblance to the rook, that the latter bird, is 

 very frequently taken for it. 



The favourite feeding-places of the bird are the banks 

 of canals, tidal rivers, large ponds, and, on the approach of 

 winter, the sea-shore. In addition to what has been 

 already enumerated, the Carrion Crow readily devours 

 mussels, small crabs, marine insects, worms, dead fish, 

 and when this not very tempting diet is difficult to obtain, 

 grain and potatoes. In dealing with a mussel, the bird 

 has been observed to ascend to a considerable height in the 

 air with one in its claws, and, letting it fall on the beach, 

 descend rapidly with closed pinions, and devour the con- 

 tents of the fractured shell. 



As regards plumage, the Carrion Crow is of a uniform 

 blue-black, with some greenish reflections ; the tail-feathers 

 are broad, and the shape of the tail nearly square. The 

 legs, toes, claws, and beak are black. The nostrils are 

 covered with feathers directed forwards ; this is one of 

 the distinctive features in which the bird differs from the 

 rook. The irides are dark brown. The male is about 

 eighteen and a half inches in length, the female being very 

 similar, except that the upper plumage has not quite so 

 metallic a lustre. Its note is a hoarse croak, closely re- 

 sembling that of the raven. 



