116 THE CHOUGH AND CROW. 
become so universally courted, that it can scarcely be 
necessary to show that the geographical distribution of 
the species is much wider than was formerly supposed. 
The old song of “The Chough and Crow ” will probably 
be remembered as long as the English language lasts. 
Shakespeare has introduced both these birds in a fine 
description of Dover Cliff. It is not improbable that 
the chough, which affects precipices and sea-cliffs, may 
once have frequented the cliffs at Dover; but whatever 
may have been the case formerly, this haunt, if it ever was 
one, has long since been deserted. Shakespeare, at all 
events, has placed this bird in a situation most natural 
to it :— 
“Come on, sir; here’s the place :—stand still—How 
fearful 
And dizzy ’t is, to cast one’s eyes so low! 
The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, 
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down 
Hangs one that gathers samphire,—dreadful trade ! 
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head : 
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, 
Appear like mice ; and yond tall anchoring bark, 
Diminish’d to her cock ; her cock, a buoy 
Almost too small for sight : the murmuring surge, 
That on the unnumber’d idle pebbles chafes, 
Cannot be heard so high.—I’I] look no more, 
