112 THE RED-LEGGED CROW CINEREOUS CROW. 



THE RED-LEGGED CROW. 



The color of this Crow is a 'fine blue or purple black ; and its bill 

 and legs are of a bright and deep orange. 



The Red-legged Crow is a very tender bird, of elegant form and 

 unable to bear severe weather. Active, restless, and meddling, it is 

 not to be trusted where things of consequence lie. It is much taken 

 with glittering objects ; and is apt to snatch up bits of lighted sticks^ 

 so that instances have occurred of houses having been set on fire by it. 

 The injury that it does to thatched houses is sometimes very great , 

 for, tearing holes into them with its long bill, in search of worms and 

 insects, the rain is admitted, and quickens their decay. It also often 

 picks out lime from walls, in search of spiders and flies. 



These birds commonly fly very high, and they make a more shrill 

 noise than the Jackdaw. The Cornish peasantry attend so much to 

 them, that it is very common to see them tame in their gardens. They 

 shriek out aloud at the appearance of any thing strange or frightful ; 

 but, when applying for food, or desirous of pleasing those who usually 

 fondle them, their chattering is very soft and engaging. 



When tame, they are very docile and amusing ; and they are ex- 

 tremely regular to their time of feeding. But, however familiar they 

 may bjp to their immediate friends, they will not permit a stranger to 

 touchjlhem. 



ThSr nests are built about the middle of the cliffs, or in the most 

 inaccessible parts of ruins. The eggs, which are four or five in 

 number, are somewhat longer than those of the Jackdaw, and of a 

 cinereous white color, marked with irregular dusky blotches. From 

 fcbsir being very tender, these birds are seldom seen abroad except in 

 fine weather. 



THE CINEREOUS CBOW. 



This bird is so small as seldom to weigh more than two or three 

 ounces. Its plumage is brown-gray The feathers are long, soft, and 

 lilky, and in general so much un webbed, as, in many parts of the 

 body, to resemble hair. 



The Cinereous Crow, which is a native of North America, and ia 

 extremely common in the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay, is a very 

 familiar bird, and is fond of frequenting habitations, either houses or 

 tents. But so much is it given to pilfering, that no kind of provisions 

 it can come at, either fresh or salted, is safe from its depredations. It 

 is so bold as to come into tents, sit on the edge of the kettle when hang- 

 ing over the fire, and steal victuals out of the dishes. 



Few creatures are more troublesome to the hunters than the-se. 

 They will sometimes follow them a day together : will perch on a tree 

 while the hunter is baiting his martin-traps, and as soon as his back 

 is turned, will go and eat the baits. The Cinereous Crows are easily 

 tamed, but they never live long in confinement. 



The care that this birc 1 takes in laying up in summer a stock of 



