94 BRITISH BIRDS. 



it may be distinguished by lining consisting of 

 rope ends, bark-strips, wool, fur, hair, etc., often matted 

 with mud ; where trees are scarce it is placed on rock- 

 ledges. Eggs 3 to 5 ; dull pale green, boldly spotted 

 or blotched with dark brown ; size I "68 by i '20. Quite 

 omnivorous. 



121. Corvus comix, Linn. HOODED CROW. 



Hab. Northern, Central and South-Eastern Europe ; 

 also N.E. Africa and W. Asia. 



That this is very closely allied to C. corone is made 

 evident by the fact that the two constantly inter-breed 

 while the hybrids even appear to prove fertile. The 

 pure C. comix, however, has the back, breast and 

 abdomen light ash-grey with fine dusky shaft-streaks 

 to most of the feathers, the remaining plumage being 

 like that of C. corone. 



Breeds throughout Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of 

 Man, but veiy rarely in England, even in the north, 

 although small flocks from North Europe occur every- 

 where during winter. Nidification is similar to that of 

 last species but eggs are slightly larger ; size 172 by 

 I '25. Like the Carrion-Crow it is a bold marauder. 



122. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. ROOK. 



Hab. Europe (excepting extreme south) ; also whole 

 of Western Asia. 



Male : whole plumage glossy bluish-black ; skin of 

 forehead and upper throat destitute of H , feathers and ashy- 

 white in colour ; bill and tarsi, black. Length about 

 17*50. Female similar. Young : skin round base of 

 bill is at first clothed with feathers. 



Common and resident everywhere, breeding usually in 

 the familiar rookeries in tree-tops ; occasionally a quite 



