CHOUGH. 57 



mainder of a meal. With a very considerable share of 

 attachment, he is naturally pugnacious, and the hand that 

 the moment before had tendered him food and caresses, 

 will repent an attempt to take him up. To children he 

 has an utter aversion, and will scarcely suffer them to 

 enter the garden. Even strangers of any age are chal- 

 lenged vociferously ; he approaches all with daring impu- 

 dence ; and so completely does the sight of strangers 

 change his affection for the time, that even his favourites 

 and best benefactors cannot touch him with impunity in 

 these moments of evident displeasure/' 



This bird in a wild state feeds on insects and berries 

 and occasionally upon grain, but is seldom seen searching 

 for them in the open fields. Mr. Wallace, of Douglas, in 

 the Isle of Man, at the southern extremity of which, being 

 very rocky, these birds breed in security, and from whence 

 that gentleman had the kindness to bring me two skins in 

 February last, tells me that he has seen them following 

 the plough to obtain the grubs of insects that are thus ex- 

 posed, and in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, it is re- 

 corded that in August 1832, a Red-legged Crow was killed 

 on the Wiltshire Downs, near the Bath road, between 

 Marlborough and Calne, by a man employed in keeping 

 birds from corn ; Mr. Blyth mentions having known it to 

 occur on Mitcham Common in Surrey. 



This bird makes a nest of sticks lined with wool and 

 hair in the cavities of high cliffs, or in old castles, or church 

 towers, near the sea ; laying four or five eggs of a yellow- 

 ish white colour, spotted with ash grey and light brown, 

 the length one inch eight lines, by one inch one line in 

 breadth. The voice of the Chough is shrill, but not dis- 

 agreeable, and something like that of the Oyster- catcher. 

 When on the wing at a moderate distance, the flight is 



