VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 17 
Pica rustica (Scopoli). Magpie.—Resident, generally distri- 
buted, and breeding. Subject to variation of colouring. Davenport 
writes, “A white Magpie frequented the neighbourhood of Shearsby 
for a long time in the winter of 1881-2, and was seen by many 
people.” He adds, “A Magpie begins to build, say, at the end 
of March, and takes about a month to complete her nest; let the 
eggs be taken, one week will suffice for the rearing of a second 
nest.” Mr. J. W. Whitaker, of Mansfield, Notts, writes me that 
his brother, W. Whitaker, of Wistow Grange, shot a cream- 
coloured variety in 1880, and threw it away as of no value! He 
purchased in 1882 a snuff-coloured variety of the Magpie, said by 
the man who sold it to have been taken at Stoughton. 
Corvus monedula, Linn. Jackdaw. — Resident, commonly 
distributed, and breeding in old steeples, &c., in the town of 
Leicester. Harley observed a pair nesting in the chimney of a 
small cottage standing beside the lane leading from Newtown Lin- 
ford to Ulverscroft. Davenport reports a variety of the eggs 
taken by him iu Launde Wood in 1881. Ingram tells me the 
Jackdaw harries Blackbirds’ nests, and has no scruple in taking 
the callow young. 
Corvus corone, Linn. Carrion Crow. — Resident, generally 
distributed, and breeding, but by no means common. Harley 
states that, “‘ On the large grass lands in the southern division of 
the county, where game is much less cared for than in other 
districts, the Carrion Crow is certainly more abundant and more 
frequently met with.” Davenport writes, ““A very small dark 
green egg was taken (from a nest containing one other) by me 
near Rolleston in April, 1882; a precisely similar egg in every 
respect was taken near Rolleston in April, 1883, from a nest 
containing four others. Both eggs are in my collection. The 
old birds had frequented the neighbourhood during the intervening 
winter.” 
Corvus cornix, Linn. Hooded Crow; ‘‘ Grey Crow.”—An un- 
common winter visitant. It is mentioned in Potter's ‘ History of 
Charnwood Forest’ as having been seen near Charnwood Heath. 
Specimens are said to have been killed near Leicester. Harley 
says, ‘“‘It is very sparingly distributed over Leicestershire, and 
chiefly limited in its range to the Forest of Charnwood and the 
surrounding district.” Ingram writes, “‘ Five or six pairs generally 
visit Belvoir every November, remaining until spring; often near 
ZOOLOGIST.— JAN. 1886. c 
