CROW. 59 3 



reft of the plumage, wings, and tail, black, gloffed with green, 

 purple, and blue, in different lights : the eleven firft quills are 

 white in the middle, on the inner web, leffening by degrees as 

 they advance inwards : the tail is very cuneiform, the two middle 

 feathers being near eleven inches in length, and the outmoft only 

 five inches and a half : the legs are black. 



We can form no judgment of the beauties of this bird, from 

 thofe dirty, mutilated fpecimens, which we fee expofed daily in a 

 wicker cage, at every ftall : 'tis only in a ftate*of nature that they 

 can be found j and whoever views them in this ftate, will do fo 

 with aftonifhment ; for though the colours, at a diftant view, feem 

 to be mere black and white, yet the fplendor that accompanies, 

 in every new fituation, the eye of the beholder, will oblige him to 

 own, that there is not a more beautiful bird in England. 



In thefe parts it is every where common. I have been able to Places ajtb 

 trace this bird no farther fouth than Italy on the European conti- 

 nent j and to the north, Sweden and Denmark. Forjler met with 

 it at Madeira ; and it is alfo feen in America, but not common, 

 iand is a bird of pafTage in thofe parts. At Hudfon's-Bay it is 

 called by the Indians Oue-ta-kee-ajke, which fignifies Heart-Bird % 

 but for what reafon, I could never learn. 



In manners it approaches to the Crow, feeding almoft on every 

 thing in turn, both animal and vegetable ; and, like that, will kill 

 young ducks and chickens, and fuck the eggs. It builds its neft 

 with art, making a thorny cover at top, leaving a hole on the fide 

 for admittance : lays fix or feven pale greenifh eggs, thickly 

 fpotted with black. It is a crafty bird in every ftate, and, if 

 brought up young, becomes exceedingly familiar, and will talk a 

 great many fentences, as well as imitate every noife within hear- 

 ing, like a Parrot, but not near fo plain, 



3 E L* 



Manners. 



