RAVENS. . 263 



nineteen inches, their breadth is from thirty-eight to fort)' inches, the wing measures from twelve and 

 a half to thirteen inches, and the tail seven to eight inches. These two species usually pass their 

 lives in one limited district, or only leave their native haunts to make short excursions into the 

 surrounding country. Wooded pastures are their favourite resorts, such situations being preferred as 

 are in the immediate neighbourhood of man, whose orchards they are fond of visiting, though forests 

 or even thick woods seem to be avoided by these social and intelligent creatures. Their senses are 

 highly and equally developed ; their sight, smell, and hearing are remarkably perfect, and their move- 

 ments both in the air and upon the ground are light and rapid. Like the Raven, they render immense 

 service to mankind by clearing great numbers of noxious insects from the fields and gardens ; and 

 though, like that bird, they attack wounded animals, or such as are smaller than themselves, and 

 frequently rob nests of their contents, their troublesome propensities are far outweighed by the 

 benefits they confer. At the first dawn of day they congregate in large numbers upon some tree or 

 building preparatory to going in search of food, and from thence they wing their flight over the 

 neighbouring fields and gardens in company with many of their congeners, examining every nook or 

 furrow in search of their insect fare, N robbing nests of their eggs, or pouncing upon mice as they run 

 from their holes ; so courageous are they that nobler birds of prey are often disappointed of their 

 victims by the efforts of these comparatively feeble interlopers, who will pursue and dash round the 

 tyrants of the air in such numbers and with so much energy as to compel them to relinquish their prey 

 and retire from the field. At noon the parties of Crows retire to the pleasant shelter of some thickly- 

 foliaged tree, there to sleep away the mid-day heat, going again in search of food during the afternoon, 

 and re-assembling towards evening on their favourite perch to chatter to each other, and (apparently) 

 discuss the events of the day in a manner with which all are familiar. The night is passed in some 

 retired group of trees, the birds only taking possession of their roosting-place after it has been 

 cautiously examined by several of their party, and entering it with so much wariness that no sound is 

 audible beyond the soft fluttering of their wings. The period of incubation commences about 

 February or March, and during this time the attachment of the male bird to its mate seems redoubled ; 

 his whole time appears to be occupied in rendering himself attractive in her eyes. The eyrie, which 

 is built at the summit of a lofty tree, is not more than four inches deep, and is constructed of dry 

 twigs, roots, or couch-grass, the interior being lined with wool, feathers, bristles, hair, or even with bits 

 of rag. The nests are usually about two feet broad, and old nests are often repaired for the reception 

 of the brood. The eggs, three to five, and occasionally six in number, are laid in April, and in 

 colour are blueish green, marked with olive green, dark grey, or black spots and streaks. The female 

 broods alone, but receives the most unremitting attention from her mate, who only quits her when 

 compelled to go in search of food ; both assist in the nourishment and care of their young, who are 

 protected and defended from their numerous enemies with the utmost courage and devotion. 



As we have already said, it is by no means uncommon for the Carrion Crow and the Hooded 

 Crow to pair with each other ; in such cases the plumage of the offspring combines the hues of both 

 parents, and should these hybrid birds mate among themselves, their young, strangely enough, will 

 often appear in the perfect plumage of one or other of the pure breed from which the}- are 

 descended. Both species will live for a long time in confinement, but though capable of learning to 

 imitate the human voice, they possess so many disagreeable tricks as to render their training a work of 

 much labour and but little enjoyment ; their bodies have an odour that makes it impossible to keep 

 them in a dwelling room, and if permitted to run at large about the yard or garden they become so 

 troublesome by their thievish propensities, and love of every bright or glittering object they may see, 

 as to cause them to be regarded with little favour by their owners. Many are the enemies against 

 which these birds have to contend, but none of them is so formidable an antagonist as the Homed 



