HOODED CROW. 195 



either in a lofty tree in an avenue, or by the side of a 

 field : they have been known to build on the wood-work 

 under a bridge, and even on a mound of earth in an un- 

 frequented field. The nest much resembles those of the 

 former mentioned species, and the eggs are four or five in 

 number. 



The Hooded Crow is in its nature shy and cautious. 

 At night they generally roost in trees singly, but when 

 migrating rest in companies : at such times they retire late 

 to rest, and rise before the sun, when one uttering its 

 cry of joy (crea,) rouses its fellows, and all suddenly take 

 wing and pursue their way. 



The food of this crow is varied by season and circumstances. 

 In summer it consists of worms, insects and their larvee : 

 in winter they search for frozen fish on the banks of rivers ; 

 they also devour frogs and reptiles. The eggs and young 

 of birds, and even leverets, do not escape them. 



Respecting the food of this species in Scotland, Mr. 

 Hepburn says, " the Hooded Crow only occurs as a rare 

 straggler in our inland parts. It abounds along our coast 

 from Prestonpans to Galune Point, at least in the autumn. 

 Nobody but the gamekeeper has an ill word to say against 

 this Crow ; it joins the rook and other friendly birds in 

 searching after the insect foes of the farmer : but with us 

 its chief subsistence is obtained on the sea-shore."" 



In Shetland, as may be expected, this Crow is very com- 

 mon. In Moray, according to the Rev. G. Gordon, " it is 

 much more abundant than the raven and the carrion crow, 

 particularly in the lower and better cultivated part of the 

 country, where they build in trees and remain all the year. 

 They here perform many of the offices assigned to the vulture 

 in warmer climes. The grey parts of the plumage are occa- 

 sionally found shading through brown, down, in some indi- 

 viduals, to pure black, which, when they mate with others 



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