547 



abundant wherever there are trees, consequently not at Suez, where there are none. Breeds in 

 February and March. When I was trying to stalk a Buteo ferox, or any other large raptorial 

 bird, these Crows seemed to take a pleasure in attacking and driving it away just before I got 

 within shot. Indeed they persecute and bully all the large birds in the country, except Corvus 

 umbrinus, of which they are afraid." Von Heuglin(Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 504) says that it is common 

 at all seasons of the year, but it does not range far to the south, only to about 23° N. lat. 

 Dr. Leith Adams records it as rare in Nubia; and Von Hartmann (J. f. O. 1863, p. 238) did not 

 observe it beyond Assuan. The specimens from Egypt differ somewhat from others, obtained in 

 Northern Europe, in being rather smaller in size, and in having the grey portions of the plumage 

 slightly shaded with brown ; but this latter difference is scarcely perceptible. The average size 

 of my northern specimens is — culmen 2-05, wing 12-7, tail 8-15, tarsus 2-35; whereas the two 

 examples from Egypt in Captain Shelley's collection measure — culmen 2-2 and 2-0, wing 12 T 

 and 12-2, tail 7"7, tarsus 2*4 and 2-2 respectively. 



In Western Africa it is rare, and is recorded by Loche as only of accidental occurrence in 

 Algeria amongst flocks of C. corone ; and he states that it does not breed there. 



It does not appear to have occurred on Madeira, where, however, the Common Crow was 

 met with by Vernon Harcourt. 



In Asia it extends as far eastward as the Lena, eastward of which Von Middendorff only 

 met with C. corone. Messrs. Dickson and Ross (P. Z. S. 1839, p. 33) obtained it in January at 

 Erzeroom, and state that it arrives there in that month and leaves in March ; Mr. Blanford 

 obtained it in Persia; Messrs. Horsfield and Moore (Cat. B. E. I. Co. Mus. ii. p. 553) record it 

 from Mesopotamia and Afghanistan; and Dr. Gustav Radde (Reise im Siid. von O. Sib. p. 210) 

 writes that he never met with Corvus comix in Southern Siberia, but on the eastern slope of the 

 Ural large flocks, both of that species and C. corone, were observed ; Von Middendorff (Sib. Reise, 

 p. 160) observed one at Jenisejsk amongst a lot of common Crows, and was assured that in 

 Turuchansk both species are equally common, and that at Goroschinskoje, in the arctic circle, 

 both, but especially C. corone, arrived late in March to breed. On the Lena and eastward of 

 that river he only met with Corvus corone. Dr. Dybowski records it (J. f. O. 1872, p. 454) from 

 Kultuk, in Eastern Siberia, where he saw a single one in a flock of Carrion-Crows. 



In its habits the Hooded Crow does not differ from its close relative the Carrion-Crow, and 

 is quite as impudent and thievish as that bird. It has an exceedingly bad reputation, and not 

 without reason ; for I can say but little, if any thing, in its favour, except that, being exceedingly 

 omnivorous, it acts as an excellent scavenger, and soon disposes of any garbage that can be eaten, 

 especially the entrails or offal thrown out from slaughter-houses. Amongst game- and sea-birds 

 it makes great havoc, and destroys great numbers of their eggs, besides picking up the young 

 birds whenever it gets a chance ; nor is the poultry-yard free from intrusion, as it displays the 

 utmost wariness in its raids, and generally manages to pick up a few chickens with tolerable 

 impunity, in spite of all the precautions taken by the farmer. No bird is quite safe against the 

 attacks of this unscrupulous and daring marauder ; and even the Golden and Sea Eagles fre- 

 quently lose their eggs. Dr. Dewar informed Mr. Robert Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 173) that 

 in 1870 " three eggs at least were carried off by Hooded Crows, which were seen waiting an 

 opportunity for making a descent on the nest. In one case the Eagle had no sooner quitted her 



