160 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



Stanmer Park. It is kaowu as the Grey, Royston, or Saddle- 

 backed Crovr. 



BLACK CKOW. 



Corvus corone. 



This Crow^ formerly very abundant all over the countyjis now, 

 from its persecution by the gamekeeper, far less so, and bids 

 fair to become altogether extinct. Its habits and food are 

 similar to those of the Raven, and, like it, it is never found 

 in flocks, not more than a pair, or at most the parents and 

 their young, being seen together. The nest is generally on 

 a tree of moderate height^ and usually placed on the top of 

 the trunk at the divarication of the pjincipal boughs. 

 Although not associating together, I once found no less than 

 seven nests in one wood of about ten acres. This was in 

 April, and they all contained eggs or young. 



The nest is neater than that of the Rook, and is formed 

 externally of dead sticks, copiously lined, often with dry 

 horse-droppings, overlaid with a thick layer of wool. 



Though said to migrate southward in autumn, I have 

 always found the numbers about the same throughout the 

 year, except from the addition of young birds in summer. 

 In winter it frequents the sea-coast for what it can find on 

 the beach. I have twice seen it strike down a bird on its 

 flight — once a pigeon, which I picked up, and once a small 

 bird, which it carried away in its beak. It is generally 

 known as the Carrion Crow. It is particularly fond of the 

 large freshwater mussel, which it opens by violent blows 

 on the ligaments which attach the valves. 



