212 CORVID.E. 



INSESSORES. CORVIDJE. 



PLATE CXXX. 



CHOUGH. 



Fregilus gracultjs. (Selby.) 



The Chough is an inhabitant of the mountainous parts 

 of the south of Europe, the southern portions of Siberia, 

 Persia, and the north of Africa. During the summer in 

 these countries, the Chough frequents the highest rocks, iso- 

 lated towering ruins, and church steeples in lonely villages. 

 In autumn these birds move to the southern side of the 

 mountains ; and in the winter pass the day in the valleys, 

 returning at night into the mountains to roost. Troops of 

 fifty or sixty may sometimes be seen to wander about in this 

 manner ; but they never leave the vicinity of the mountains, 

 being in all respects of a very alpine disposition. In the 

 vicinity of their breeding-places, they now and then straggle 

 into the valleys as far as where the plough and other agricul- 

 tural implements are used, but that occurs rarely. The 

 Chough when wild is a very shy and unsociable bird, but 

 capable, like others of the Corvus family, of domestication. 

 Their flight is very quick and elevated : they circle round 

 and round, seeming hardly to move their wings. When on 

 the ground the actions of the Chough are very stately and 

 graceful. They are never seen to perch upon trees ; their 

 favourite resting-place is on the shelf of a projecting rock, 

 where they appear to enjoy the warmth of the sun. 



