84 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



have often seen Carrion Crows washing themselves in a 

 brook that runs through my land ; and but three days 

 ago I saw one on a spot of grass meadow which the 

 brook had overflown^ the bird plunging and rolling about 

 in the water with apparent delight, while it sent the spray 

 in showers all around it. After the bath it flew up to a 

 tree near by, and there alighting, shook the water from 

 its body and wings, then went on preening its feathers, 

 at intervals giving them a fresh, vigorous shake. As 

 there was but the one in sight, I take it for granted it 

 was the cock bird, the hen being at the time on her nest. 

 Had it been otherwise, the pair would certainly have been 

 together, or in visible proximity, for, winter or summer, 

 the Corvus corone is never seen alone, save when its mate 

 and the younger members of its family have fallen 

 victims to gin or gun. 



ABRUPT DISAPPEARANCE OF CROWS AND 

 MAGPIES. 



While out on a long drive, I was once struck with the 

 almost total disappearance of Crows and Magpies from 

 places where previous to that day I had been accustomed 

 to see them. Going the same round but a few days 

 before, I had observed the latter in troops of ten, twenty, 

 or thirty, loudly vociferous, their chattering scarce ever 

 out of my ears. Now only one, or at most a pair, is to 

 be seen at a time, and silent as mice. The explanation 

 is, of course, that these birds have mated, and gone 

 about building their nests, or repairing the old ones of 



