68 THE ROOK 



and in all but the south of Scotland they are of more frequent 

 occurrence than any other of the tribe, essentially belonging to the 

 ' Land of the mountain and the flood '. It is on the increase in 

 Ireland and very unwelcome there. One can scarcely traverse 

 the shores of the salt-water lochs of Scotland without seeing a 

 pair, or, in the latter part of the year, a small party of four or five 

 of these birds, gravely pacing the shingle and sand in quest of food. 

 As far as my own experience goes, I should consider the Hooded 

 Crow as ' half sea-bird ', but it is said to be met with, in summer, 

 in the very centre of the Grampians and other inland districts. 

 Its proper diet consists of the smaller marine animals, such as 

 crabs, echini, and molluscs, alive or dead, fish and carrion. At 

 high-water it retires inland, and skulks about the low grounds 

 in quest of the eggs and young of Moor-fowl, thereby gaining the 

 execrations of gamekeepers ; takes a survey of any adjacent sheep- 

 walks, on the chance of falling in with a new-bom lamb, or sickly 

 ewe, whence it has but an iU name among shepherds ; and returns 

 when the tide has well ebbed, to finish the day's repast on food 

 of a nature light and easy of digestion. It is less wary of man than 

 the Carrion Crow, and often comes within shot, but, being far too 

 numerous to admit of being exterminated, is but little assaUed. 

 In the comparatively mUd climate of the Scottish sea-coast, these 

 birds find an abundant supply of food all the year round and as there 

 is no sensible diminution of their numbers in winter, it is supposed that 

 those which frequent the EngHsh coast from October to March 

 have been driven southwards by the inclement winters of high 

 latitudes. They are then frequently observed on the coast of 

 Norfolk and Sussex in parties of thirty or more, and it has been 

 remarked that the hunting, grounds of the two species are defined 

 by singularly precise limits, the neighbourhood of Chichester being 

 frequented by the Carrion Crow, that of Brighton by its congener. 

 It is abundant on the sea-coast of Norfolk in the winter, where I 

 have seen it feeding with Gulls, Plovers, etc. In musical capa- 

 bilities it is inferior even to its relative, its solitary croak being 

 neither so loud nor so clear. The nest of the Hooded Crow is large, 

 composed of twigs, sea-weeds, heath, feathers, and straws, and is 

 placed on rocks, tall trees, low bushes, and elsewhere, accord- 

 ing to circumstances. 



THE ROOK 



CORVUS FRtJGILEGUS 



Plumage black, with purple and violet reflections ; base of the beak, nostrils ; 

 and region round the beak bare of feathers and covered with a white scurf, 

 iris greyish white ; beak and feet black. Length eighteen inches ; breadth 

 three feet. Eggs pale green, thickly blotched with ohve and dark-brown. 



As the Hooded Crow is essentially the type of the Corvidas in 



