SONG-BIRDS 193 



and the damage it inflicts are about equally balanced. This, at least, is 

 the view held by some naturalists ; whilst according to others the rook 

 makes good a thousandfold every damage it commits. By means of its 

 large, sharp-edged beak (apart from its great strength), it is enabled to 

 kill and tear up animals of largish size. It also uses the beak in boring 

 for insect larvae, burrowing for mice, and digging up the seeds of corn, 

 etc. From continually working about in the earth, the feathers at the 

 base of the beak are worn of in old birds, this portion of the bill being 

 therefore surrounded by a naked ring of integument. The feet are 

 powerful, and provided with blunt claws, and equally adapted for walking 

 or hopping, as well as for holding on to branches. The bird is a winter 

 visitor in Southern Europe and North Africa, but resident in England. 



Allied Species. 



The Common Raven (C. corax) is the largest member of the crow 

 family. It is found throughout the whole of Europe, Northern Asia, 

 and North America. It has entirely disappeared from many localities 

 in consequence of continuous persecution. No animal, from the hare 

 to the mouse, from the capercailzie to the smallest song-bird, is safe 

 from the attack of this bird, which uses its large claws exactly after 

 the manner of a bird of prey. 



The Carrion Crow (C. cor one) in all respects resembles the rook, 

 with the exception that the feathers at the base of the beak are not worn 

 off, inasmuch as the bird does not use its beak for digging into the earth. 

 Like the raven, it remains with us during the winter, at which season it 

 often visits villages and towns in company with the Hooded Crow 

 (C. comix). In this latter species the plumage is ash grey ; the head, 

 throat, tail and wings black. In the winter the bird departs from the 

 more Northern countries to districts further South, so that in Central 

 Germany it is frequently seen in places where it never breeds. It 

 occasionally breeds in Britain and in Ireland, but is only abundant in 

 winter, arriving in large numbers on the East Coast in autumn. 



The Jackdaw (C. monedula). — This bird is a familiar inhabitant. of 

 towers, but also nests in cliffs and on trees. In the nature of its food it 

 resembles the rook, though it does not dig in the soil. The colour of 

 the general plumage is black, but the head, neck, and under side are 

 ash grey. In the autumn it accompanies the rooks to the South. 

 Large numbers arrive in autumn to pass the winter in England, while 

 our own jackdaws are resident throughout the winter. The jackdaw is 

 especially common in Cornwall, nesting both on the cliffs and in the 

 chimneys and church-towers of the villages. 



