PYRRHOCORAX GRACTTLUS. 



(The Chough.) 



Of all British birds the " Cornish Chough" is the one of my affections. It 

 becomes now more and more scarce. 

 Shakespeare speaks of 



" Russet-pated Choughs^ many in sort. 

 Rising and cawing at the gun's report." 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act iii. Sc. 2. 



'Nature' says (December 28, 1871): — " ' Russet-pated Choughs,' i. e. 

 having red pattes or feet (c/". the heraldic croix pattee), not a red pate 

 or head." 



I have kept several of this species in captivity ; but they are very 

 expensive to buy, and do not live long. In July 1859 I saw two in the 

 Regent's Park, at the Zoological Gardens. The man who obtained them 

 lost his life shortly after, in a fresh attempt for more. No one who has only 

 known stuffed specimens can imagine the brilliancy of the colours and the 

 agile and graceful movements of these most charming birds. 



In the ' History of Sign-boards,' by Larwood and Hotten, 7th edition, 

 p. 203 : — " The three black birds (Choughs, Crows, and Ravens) are a common 

 sign ; then there is the Chough at Chard, in Somerset, and the Three Choughs 

 at Yeovil." "On Friday, August 27, 1770, at the Three Crows in Brook 

 Street, Holborn, the coroner sat on the body of Thomas Chatterton, and ten 

 jurymen returned a verdict of felo de se." Such was the sad termination of 

 the career of the " marvellous boy," the gifted Chatterton. 



o 2 



