102 CORNISH CHOUGHS. 



instant they fly away in perfect harmony, and are always 

 inseparable companions. But how it is that their eyes escape 

 injury when at the sparring matches is truly remarkable. Like 

 other birds at roosting time they become especially quarrelsome, 

 making a tremendous noise ; and if the friendly hand be then 

 put near them, with hissing lunges of disapproval, heads down, 

 tails up, they thrust and lunge as though they had never suffered 

 the same hand to stroke or caress them before. At all times they 

 are sensitive creatures with very highly-strung nerves ; and 

 the smallest occurrence out of the common startles them 

 immoderate]y. 



They are said not to perch on trees. This is not correct ; 

 they frequently do so on bare exposed branches ; and occasionally 

 join the rooks on the summits of the tall elms ; but only for a 

 second or two, prefering the ridge of the roof, or the coping of 

 of a wall, or other stone support on which to rest their feet. 



I am not aware that Cornish choughs have ever bred in 

 semi-captivity. The male is much larger and stronger than the 

 female ; the plumage is identical in both sexes. My own birds 

 have attempted nesting every year, but have never laid eggs to 

 my knowledge ; though the yellow-billed variety (Pyrrochorax 

 Alpinus), has certainly nested more than once in the aviaries at 

 Lilford. 



"And are you not afraid of their being shot, as they go so 

 far afield?" is a question often asked. Well one is, extremely 

 so ; and it is surprising that such a fate has never befallen them. 

 It speaks much for the goodwill and forbearance of the parish 

 sportsmen that they have never, — say when these birds have been 

 feeding with rooks in the arish or plow, had a shot at them : 

 of course any stranger seeing birds fly by him, such as he had 

 never seen before, might naturally try to secure them, and fire 

 at them with that end in view, without any blame attaching to 

 the action : when one hears of their being seen on the moors, 

 and of persons enquiring what birds they are, one trembles for 

 their safety : and for all one knows, they may have had many 

 a hair-breadth escape. Yet if such should be their fate, it would 

 be satisfactory to feel that they had enjoyed life to the full, and 

 known no cares ; always sure of a warm shelter by night, secure 



