RAVENS. 255 



endeavours to hide itself by creeping into the depths of some adjacent hole. In the afternoon the 

 whole party again goes several times in search of food, and returns at night to sleep upon the usual 

 perch. According to Bolle, this species is rarely seen in the Canary Islands ; and, indeed, many other 

 spots which would appear to offer it a most desirable home, are, most unaccountably, never visited by 

 this shy and unenterprising bird. It is only when we learn upon what food the Chough subsists 

 that we appreciate the full value of its many services ; for it lives principally upon insects, grass- 

 hoppers, spiders, and, in Spain, it also devours scorpions in large numbers, raising the stones under 

 which such creatures live by the aid of its beak, or digging up the ground in search of them. 



The breeding season commences early in spring ; the nest, which is often very difficult to find, 

 being placed in holes in the rock, is constructed of dry stalks or hay, well lined with moss : the 

 eggs, four or five in number, are whitish or dirty yellow, marked with dark brown spots and streaks. 

 The female broods alone, but both parents assist in the heavy task of feeding the young, an operation 

 which is carried on amidst an indescribable amount of noise and general confusion. So extremely 

 social are these birds that they remain in company even during the period of incubation. Though, 

 like other Ravens, they have doubtless little respect for property, still, on the whole they live peacefully, 

 even when in large flocks, and courageously assist their companions when in danger. Should one of 

 the party be injured the rest immediately surround it with every indication of sympathy, and we have 

 known a case in which a Chough that had broken its wing was fed by its companions until it could fly 

 about and obtain its own food. When tamed these birds frequently become extremely interesting, and 

 may be allowed to leave the cage, without any danger of their flying away. 



THE ALPINE CHOUGH. 



The Snow Crow, or Alpine Chough {Pyrrhocorax alpinus) possesses a comparatively strong, 

 yellow beak, of about the length of its head, and its plumage more nearly resembles that of a Black- 

 bird than that of a Crow. The attire of the adult is of a rich velvety black, the feet are red. Whilst 

 young the feathers are of a paler tint, and the feet yellow. 



In size and habits the Alpine Chough closely resembles the species last described — indeed, it 

 may be regarded as holding the same place among the pinnacles of Alpine ranges as that occupied by 

 the Lark in our corn-fields, or the Seagull on our coasts. Tschudi tells us that two of these birds were 

 seen by Meyer during his ascent of the Finsteraarhorn, at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea, and they are frequently known to inhabit regions that are entirely uninhabitable by man, 

 or even by the quadrupeds that occasionally are found at very considerable altitudes. Travellers who 

 attempt the most precipitous and apparently desolate passes are astonished to find that they are 

 greeted by a noise which they could never have supposed to have existed amongst the lofty peaks of 

 the solemn and majestic Alps, and soon find themselves beset by swarms of Snow Crows, who scream 

 and quarrel among themselves as they hover over the heads of their unusual visitors, or perch upon 

 a neighbouring pinnacle the better to observe their movements. The utmost severity of the winter 

 will not drive them to seek a home in the country that lies beneath, upon which they, however, 

 occasionally descend in large flocks, making the air resound with hoarse caws, or shrill cries, as they 

 search for berries in the bushes that abound in Alpine valleys. Almost any kind of food is consumed 

 by them with avidity, but they manifest a decided preference for snails of various kinds — indeed, upon 

 one occasion we found no less than thirteen of these destructive molluscs in the crop of a Snow Crow 

 that we had killed : like birds of prey, they will occasionally follow living animals, and devour dead 

 carcases with the greatest eagerness. The author from whom we quote tells us that he has known 

 these birds to rush clown from their retreats at the first report of a gun, and join in the pursuit of the 

 intended victim with the utmost excitement, and mentions an instance in which a flock of Alpine 



