93 THE SPECIES. 



Pigeon's, rapid and acrobatic. It would seem to be the total abstainer of the bird-woild, fm 

 we are gravely assured that "it has never been known to drink." Not unnaturally, its cry is 

 a peculiarly dry and thirsty " rakker-rakker-crea." This handsome but eccentric stragglei 

 seems to prefer a. telegraph wire as a perch. 



CorTUS. Plate ix. CORVINM (Passeridos). 



127. monedula, 14 in. JACKDAW. Cindery, with grey collar ; iris white, 



128. corone, 18 in. Carkion Crow. Greenish black ; nostrils always 



feathered. 



129. cornix, 19 in. Hooded Crow. Grey and black ; hood black, 



wings black, tail black, other parts grey. 



130. frngikgus, 20 in. RoOK. Purplish black, with blue reflections ; bald 



over nostrils, lores, and throat. 



131. coraxt 24 in. Raven. Glossy steel black, with green and purple 



reflections ; bill black and strong ; lanceolate throat 

 feathers. 



The Jackdaw — Dimensions, Mc ; Eggs, Ji— is one of our most popular residents. When 

 on the wing its progress is of the yawing, unsteady variety. Its call is a '* kae," which some 

 have imagmed to resemble " Jack," while others will have, it that it is " daw," — but, then, a 

 Jackdaw will say anything, and do anything, to oblige. The female is smaller than the male, 

 and has the grey collar somewhat obscure. The nest, in which there are from four to six 

 eggs, is an untidy heap of miscellaneous matter, in some tower, or wall, or chimney, or tree, 

 or in any hole— even in a rabbit-burrow ; and where there is one there are generally many. 



The Carrion Crow— Dimensions, Omj Eggs, Kk — is generally found in woods near the 

 sea and inland waters. It has whitish bases to its body feathers ; it has a stouter bill than 

 the Rook, and a more laboured flight, besides a quicker walk, and a curious habit of keeping 

 its bill to the ground ; and it is generally found alone or in pairs. Its cry i&a " croak -uk-uk " ; 

 or '* There's a hog dead ! Where ? where ? Up the burn ! up the_ burn 1 Is't fat ? Is't fat? 

 It's a creesh 1 It's a creesh 1 " Its nest is of sticks, with the twigs inside plastered over with 

 mud, the lining being of wool and feathers ; and it is generally placed in the fork of the main 

 trunk of a tree, or on a rocky ledge. There are from three to six eggs. The female is rather 

 browner than the male. 



The Hooded Crow — Dimensions, Pb ; Eggs, Kg — is retained in the list, though generally 

 admitted to be a variety of C. corone, not breeding true to colour. Its eggs are said to be 

 smaller, and they appear as such in our table ; but the birds themselves, in measured speci- 

 mens, are certainly larger on the average. 



The Rook — Dimensions, Pi ; Eggs, Ke— has a feathereu beak during its first year, but the 

 young can be distinguished from those of the two preceding Crows by the inside of the mouth 

 being of dark flesh-colour, turning to purplish^ instead of being of a very pale tint. The 

 bases of its body feathers are grey, with no white. The flight is straight and assured, easy 

 and regular, with the primaries extended so that their tips look Hke short fingers. The Rook 

 ih often very noisy on ihe wing, with his well-known " caw " — the characteristic call of the 

 Corvidae. Rooks are not often alone; they are generally in straggling flocks ; and they build 

 in colonies. The nest, in the top of a tall tree, is a large one of sticks and twigs, plasterea 

 with mud, and lined with grass and moss and wool ; the cavity is rather deep, and contains 

 >om three to five eggs. 



The Raven — Dimensions, Re ; Eggs, Mm — is yearly becoming rarer. It has the boldest 

 flight of all the Corvidse ; with its neck and feet drawn in, it floats high over the mountain- 

 tops, leisurely, steady, and self-possessed, and then sweeps off, as if to be punctual to an 

 appointment. Its note is a hoarse " cawruk," or a " craugh," with a bark when attacked, 

 and an occasional "gorbel." The nest, now generally found on some rocky cliff, but formerly 

 uore frequent in lofty trees, is an un^jlastered mass of sticks, lined with twigs and grass and 

 wool. The eggs are from four to six in number. The female is not so iridescent in plumage 

 as the male, and she is generally smallei. 



Cosmonetta. Plate xxii. ANATIDM, 



252. kisti-ionica, 17 in. Harlequin, Gaily striped and spotted ; wing 

 speculum purple. 

 The Harlequin Duck— Dimensions, Np ; Eggs, Oo— has a beak like a goose, with a small 

 Jobe at each side, and its tail it not nearly so long as that of the Lone-tailed Duck for which 

 it is occasionally mistaken. It is an Icelandic species usually visiting us in the winter. It 

 has a swift and powerful flight, and is the most daring of swimmers among rapids and 

 waterfalls. Its note is a loud croak, a sort of '* eck, eck. The female is of smaller sizCf 

 and is brown in plumage, with a white p.it-h Dn the fi'ihead. :tnd a brown stripe across the 

 eye-patch. 



