1 OMNIVOILE. 



feathers extending over the nostrils in the young bird, but 

 these are wanting in the old. The common opinion is, that 

 it wears them off in digging, which is not very likely, as 

 much more laborious spade-work does not injure the fur of 

 moles, or the feathers of some other birds. There is a power 

 of reproduction in the bill, and if necessary there would be 

 one also in the feathers which the young bird has at its base. 

 The replacing of the feathers by scales, rather indicates a 

 natural habit in the bird. The natural dimensions of a full- 

 grown rook are, about nineteen inches long, and thirty-eight 

 in the wings ; and the weight is about nineteen ounces. 



THE HOODED OR KOYSTON CKOW (OoTVUS COTUIX). 



This bird is larger than the rook, being an inch longer, an 

 inch broader, and about three ounces heavier. Its head, 

 wings, and tail are black, but less bright than that of the 

 rook, though there are some blue and green reflections to- 

 ward the sides of the neck ; the rest of the body is of a dull 

 smoke-grey. It is a stronger bird, but less handsome and 

 less interesting in its manners. Its principal food consists of 

 eggs, young birds, and carrion ; and it may be described as a 

 prowling and gross-feeding bird, plundering all that it can 

 find, killing all that its cowardly nature will allow it to 

 master, and feeding greedily upon any garbage that comes in 

 its way. Other birds seem to know and dislike it, for even 

 the small ones fly about it, and beat it with their wings. 



In England, the hooded crow is only a winter migrant, 

 appearing in the month of October, and taking its depar- 

 ture about the first of April. During that time it is also 

 most abundant in the richest districts of the Scotch low- 

 lands, in which it seldom breeds ; but as the latitude, and 

 also the cold from elevation, increase, the birds are found 

 more numerous, and in the high districts, and the Orkney 

 and Shetland Isles, the hooded crow, or simply "hoody," as it 



