THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 223 
records. Weigold does not include it for Urfa, nor Meinerzhagen and Sassi for 
Mosul. 
This Crow is an early breeder ; Cumming says it breeds at Fao from February 
15th to March 31st and Tomlinson found eggs on March 4th, and Aldworth several 
nests in the Nasariyeh district in the first week of March. The top of a tall date 
palm would appear to be the almost universal site, but Logan Home noted a 
nest at Amarainalow willow tree about 15 feet from the ground. The full 
number of eggs is 4 to 5. A nest examined by Buxton was a very untidy affair 
built of camel thorn and lined with sheeps wool and old paper. Mr. Jourdain 
informs me that the average of 43 eggsin his collectionis 44°05x29°22 mm., 
and maximum 49°5~x 29:2 and 48x 31°3 ; minimum 42°128-°6 and 41-1 x 27°6 
mm. ; there is considerable variation in size and some would pass for Raven’s eggs 
while others are no larger than Rook’s. 
Their habits would seem to be much like those of Crows elsewhere, and they 
are very fond of marshes and the vicinity of human habitation, doubtless for 
what they can pick up ; Pitman notes that they are inveterate egg thieves, and 
will drive Rooks off any morsel they covet ; in absence of any better perch they 
will alight on tall reeds to which they cling like ungainly huge Reed warblers ! 
Their note struck me as being harsher than that of the European Hooded Crow, 
and they have another deeper and gruffer note which I do not remember in the 
latter bird. 
In worn plumage the mantle of the Crow is a creamy white and the newly 
moulted feathers are very pale grey. 
(1) , Amara, 30-1-18; Baghdad, 13-12-18 (P. Z.C. and R. E.C.). 
(2) Five specimens examined: Akkarkuf, 2-8-17 ; 25-7-17 (P. A. B.); Q, 
Basra, 12-5-17; 2, Mohommerah, 29-3-17. (Q, Amara, 21-1-18. (P.Z.C. and 
R.E.C.) 
This has the same wing formula as cornix 2nd primary between 6th and 7th, 
the Ist between 9th and 10th. Scapulatus, I may note, has quite a different 
wing to the cornix group, a much shorter 6th primary so that the 2nd is between 
the 5th and 6th and Ist equals the 8th. 
Besides being noticeably paler than sharpii, capellanus has a larger bill and 
stouter feet. 
3 Rook. Corvus frugilegus, 
Corvus frugilegus, L. (Syst. Nat. Ed. X, p. 105, 1758—Sweden). 
The Rook is an exceeding common winter visitor to the plains of Mesopotamia 
arriving with great regularity during the third week of October and continu- 
ing to arrive till the middle of November. 
Its distribution is much influenced by the presence or absence of trees and 
cultivation, but it may be said that in suitable places it occurs from Mosul on 
the Tigris, and Ramadi on the Euphrates in the north, to Fao and the Karun 
district in the south. 
The huge flights to and from their roosting quarters, evening and morning, at 
some places such as Basra, Amara, and Kazimain must have struck the least 
ornithologically observant. 
In some gardens they roost in such masses that their droppings constitute an 
annual top dressing much appreciated ‘by the more intelligent land-owners. 
Flying in to roost, at a fair height as a rule, a strong wind adversely affects them, 
and Buxton noted that under such conditions they start to come in much earlier 
and finish later, while they fly close above the ground. 
Though a few depart as early as mid February the main migration does not 
begin till mid March and continues on through that month till the end of April, 
by which time all have gone. The direction is mostly north in spring and south 
or south-east in autumn. 
Whether any Rooks breed regularly in Mesopotamia is douktful, but Aldworth 
in 1919 found an isolated colony at Mosul. 
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