S30 CLASS AVES. , 



the Duchess Christine, were probably artificial impositions ; 

 the latter done in the manner in which the spur of a cock is 

 sometimes affixed on the head. 



The White necked Raven of Levaillant (the ruperine raven 

 of Daudin), deserves a notice. In size it is intermediate, be- 

 tween the raven and the hooded crow. The bill is peculiar, 

 being surrounded at the base with feathers, Avhich are directed 

 forward, as in the genus generally, but it is convex above 

 and compressed laterally. This bird is extremely ferocious, 

 feeds on carrion, but it is apparently equally fond of fresh 

 animal food, for it is said that it will not only attack and 

 kill lambs, and small antelopes, first picking out the eyes and 

 the tongue, but it even pursues the buffalo, the rhinoceros, 

 and elephant ; and perching on the back of these animals, 

 will succeed in getting out the larvae of such insects as are 

 deposited under the skin. 



The Carrion Crow, which is spread over both the old and 

 new continents, feeds, like the ravens, on putrid flesh; to which, 

 however, it adds insects, worms, fine grain, fruit, and eggs. 

 In Avinter it associates with the rooks and hooded crows, and 

 may be seen with them on fresh turned earth, searching for 

 worms, insects, and their larvae. At the approach of night 

 they assemble in considerable flocks, and retire to the highest 

 trees of the forest. Early in the spring, when the rooks 

 quit the south of Europe in flocks, to build their elevated 

 cities in the high trees in the north, the carrion crows sepa- 

 rate into pairs, and proceed alone in the great work of nidi- 

 fication. The nest, like that of the rook, is constructed at 

 the summit of a tree of slender branches, matted with clay 

 and horse-dung, and lined within with fibres. The female 

 lays four or five eggs, of a paleish green, with obscure spots 

 and bars. 



The old birds have great affection for their young, which 

 remain a long time under their fostering care, and to which 



