THE HOODED CROW. 103 



The Hooded Crow builds either in trees, or in rocks and 

 cliffs, and, like other members of the Corvidse, they com- 

 mence nesting- early. The nest is built of roots, sticks, and 

 straw, and is lined with wool and hair ; the eggs number 

 four or five, sometimes six ; they are nearly two inches 

 long, of a light greenish grounding 1 , mottled all over with 

 dark greenish-brown. The voice of the Hooded Crow is 

 not so hoarse as the Carrion Crow's, and it has at times a 

 sharp harsh note. 



They are very wary birds, and it is seldom a shot can be 

 got at them; if there are several together, there are 

 generally one or two left perched upon a tree or eminence to 

 act as sentinels, and give the alarm should danger approach. 



The beak of this bird is pointed and strong : it is two 

 inches in length and of a shining black, the lower half 

 covered with stiff projecting feathers, which quite cover 

 the nostrils ; the head, cheeks, throat, and front of neck 

 are shining bluish-black; the wings and tails similar; the 

 nape of the neck, back, rump, and all the under surface of 

 the body of a dark slaty-grey, the shafts of the feathers 

 being darker. The legs, toes, and claws, which are stout 

 and strong, are all shining black. 



The length is about twenty inches; the females are 

 said to be a little smaller than the males, but resemble 

 them in plumage, excepting that the grey portions are 

 tinged with brown. 



Several well-authenticated instances of this bird mating 

 with the Carrion Crow are recorded. 



The Hooded Crow, besides being an annual visitor to 

 the southern parts of this country, is met with very com- 

 monly in Ireland, where it is said to be indigenous ; it is 

 well known in almost all parts of North Britain and the 



