546 



Count von der Miihle states (Orn. Griechenl. p. 53) that it is a resident in Greece, and has been 

 observed at Lamia, Patras, and near Athens; but Lindermayer denies this, and says (Vog. 

 Griechenl. p. 70) that he only found it in Attica during the winter, and that it arrives in 

 November and leaves in March ; but further on he says that he believes that it breeds in 

 Northern Greece. Erhardt says that it is resident on the Cyclades; and Dr. Kriiper states 

 (J. f. O. 1863, p. 404) that it breeds on the rocky shores of Naxos, where he obtained its eggs, 

 and found three young birds in a nest placed in a cleft about five feet from the grouud. It also 

 breeds, he states, in Santorin, Myconos, and Paros. 



In Southern Germany it is common in Bohemia; and according to Fritsch (J. f. O. 1869, 

 p. 203) it is the predominating species in Central Bohemia, as Corvus corone is either very rare 

 or is not found at all. It is found in Austria ; and I saw it often when in Hungary, and took its 

 nest in Wallachia, not far from the Hungarian frontier. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley record it 

 (Ibis, 1870, p. 189) as common in Turkey; and Professor von Nordmann states that it is common 

 in South Russia everywhere, especially in Imeritia and Ghouriel, where the immense flocks do 

 great damage to the maize-fields. Mr. Goebel (J. f. O. 1870, p. 190) records it as common in 

 the Uman district, Southern Russia, throughout the year, its numbers being, however, increased 

 during the winter by arrivals from the north. Mr. Jacovleff records it as extremely numerous 

 at the mouth of the Volga ; and in the streets of Astrachan they are so tame that they will take 

 food out of the hand, and are extremely useful as scavengers. It is not unfrequently to be seen 

 fishing, and in the winter attends the fishermen and picks up the small fish which they throw 

 away. Most of them leave Astrachan during the breeding-season. Sabanaeff records it as rare 

 in the Ural ; and Dr. G. Radde (J. f. O. 1854, p. 62) found it extremely abundant in Southern 

 Bessarabia, and rarer in the Crimea than in Germany ; but it is found in small flocks in the 

 Tartar villages. 



Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine, and writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 64) as follows: — "We 

 met with the Hooded Crow (Corvus comix) at Jenin (Engannim), a day's journey south of 



Nazareth ; and neither in winter nor summer did we find it further north It is curious 



that this bird, merely a winter visitant to all except the more northerly portions of the British 

 Isles, should be sedentary not only in Southern Syria, but also in Egypt, and that in the north 

 of Palestine it should be, if present at all, at any rate very scarce. It is given by Russell as 

 inhabiting the neighbourhood of Aleppo. There were a few pairs at Jenin, which roosted among 

 the palm trees, where we obtained them as they were returning home in the evening. In the 

 district about Nablous they were scarce, but more numerous at Jerusalem, living there in society 

 with Ravens and Rooks, but not nearly so abundant as the other Corvidse. We never saw them 

 in the southern wilderness, or in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea ; but on crossing to the other 

 side of Jordan, the C. comix was widely distributed over the highlands and open plains of Moab, 

 and in the southern and eastern portions of Gilead, not loving the thick forests, but resorting 

 chiefly to open plains, where a few terebinth trees occasionally varied the landscape." Hemprich 

 and Ehrenberg obtained it in Syria ; and it is common and resident in North-east Africa. Captain 

 Shelley (B. of Eg. p. 159) says that it " is the Common Crow of Egypt, but in Nubia it is less 

 plentiful. It begins breeding towards the end of February, when its nest may be procured in 

 almost every clump of sont." Mr. E. C. Taylor also records it (Ibis, 1869, p. 66) as " very 



