332 CLASS AVES. , 



of the neck are silky, and rounded at their end in the rook ; 

 but they are stiff and pointed in the crow. The iris also is 

 hazel in the crow, but bluish in the present species. Rooks, 

 however, do not feed on carrion, or the flesh of large animals, 

 but confine themselves to grain, and the larvje of insects, 

 especially the chafer. It is therefore not easy to determine 

 whether they are a greater good or evil to the agriculturist. 



These birds seem partial to our island, as they remain here 

 the whole year -, but in France, and most parts of Europe, 

 especially to the south, they are birds of passage ; and in 

 Spain, as it is said, are not known. Their gregarious dispo- 

 sition, particularly during incubation, on the tops of lofty 

 trees, is well known. After the breeding season they dis- 

 perse, and in a great measure abandon the trees in which 

 they bred their young. The eggs, five in number, a little 

 smaller than those of the crow, are bluish green, with dark 

 blotches. They begin to build early in March, and the 

 male and female sit by turns. White and pied varieties are 

 sometimes seen. 



The Hooded Crow, C. Comix, continues the whole year 

 in Scotland and in parts of Ireland ; in England it is seen 

 only during winter, in general in the open country, or on the 

 banks of rivers, in small companies of ten or twelve. They 

 are migratory also on the continent ; are said to be common 

 in northern Asia, and to be found also in India and in Africa. 

 They nestle in high trees or rocks, and are then separated 

 into pairs, though at other times they seem to mix promis- 

 cuously. Their eggs are like those of the carrion crow. The 

 female and the young are without the grey, which predomi- 

 nates on the body only of the male. 



The Daw, or Jackdaw, C Monedtda, is permanent in this 

 country, and breeds principally in old towers ; the nest is 

 made of sticks, and lined with grass and wool. The eggs 

 are five, greenish blue, with dark brown spots. These nests 



