CARRION CROW. 79 



in strength between that of the Raven and Rook. In 

 appearance he is similar to the Raven, but smaller, 

 being black all over, with glossy steel-blue feathers on 

 his head and breast ; his legs, feet, and beak are all 

 black. 



For his food he will eat almost anything, though, 

 as his name implies, carrion seems to be his favourite 

 meal ; young hares, rabbits, partridges, and fowls, or 

 even a sickly lamb, all falling victims to him. He will 

 also eat insects, grubs, and seeds, or sometimes he 

 will scavenge along the sea-shore for dead fish or 

 mussels, which latter he flies with to some height and 

 then drops, to break the shell. 



Carrion Crows can be kept in confinement, but 

 their bodies have such a disagreeable odour, that it 

 is impossible to keep them in a dwelling-room. They 

 can be made very tame, however, and make almost 

 as amusing pets as Ravens.* 



* From the Qd. Report, Summer, 1879. " Three Carrion 

 Crows. These birds were taken from their nest on 19th May, 

 being about a fortnight old. As they had to be fed on raw 

 flesh, the keeping of them came rather expensive, the butcher's 

 bill amounting to a shilling a week. The meat diet was con- 

 tinued for about six weeks, and then the birds were put on 

 barley meal mixed with water. Being constantly cared for by 

 their owners, they got to know them perfectly both by sight 

 and by voice. No restraint whatever was put upon them ; 

 from the time of their being able to move about they were 

 allowed to go just where they liked, and they were left out all 

 night to roost. As their powers increased, they would take 

 considerable flights, but they appeared to have no inclination 

 to go far away from the grounds. The boys were their com- 

 panions, and the birds did not seem happy if none of them 

 were about for them to associate with. They would come to 

 welcome their friends first thing in the morning as they came 

 up the asphalt path from the house to the schools ; when the 



