BLACK BIRDS. 5 



The Chough is the only bird with plumage entirely 

 black and possessing bright-red bill and feet, and 

 though in young birds these are orange, even so, taken 

 in conjunction with the black plumage, they remain the 

 infallible distinguishing marks of the Chough. In its 

 habits and vivacious temperament this bird closely 

 resembles the Jackdaw, with which it often associates 

 in its nesting quarters and feeding; resorts. It nests 

 in colonies in holes in high cliffs, has a note distinctly 

 akin to the high, querulous, and somewhat nasal 

 'A-dw!' of the Jackdaw, and further resembles the 

 Jackdaw in performing concerted aerial evolutions 

 with its fellows or in company with Jackdaws, during 

 which it indulges in the ' tumbling ' antics common 

 with Jackdaws and Rooks. The Chough feeds in 

 flocks in inland fields and pastures* and searches the 

 shore for animal matter flung up by the sea, moving 

 about with a short, rapid, running motion often seen 

 in the Magpie. 



ROOK — 19 inches ; whitish patch at base of bill. 



JACKDAW— 14 inches ; short bill; gray nape. 



CARRION CROW— 19 inches. 



HOODED CROW— 19 inches ; body ash-gray. 



RAVEN — 24 inches ; long feathers at throat. 

 All these birds have dark bills and feet. 



JACKDAW. — Plate 1. Length, 14 inches. 

 Black, with a bluish gloss above, dull black below, 

 but nape and sides of neck from behind the eye gray ; 

 bill, legs, and feet black ; eyes white. Resident. 



Eggs. — 4 — 6, pale greenish -blue, spotted and 

 blotched with dark brown, olive-.brown, and gray ; 

 1-4 X 1-0 inch (plate 121). 



