CHOUGH. 



213 



Choughs are very clamorous and call out frequently, much 

 in the manner of the jackdaw. The sound of their voice 

 resembles that of other crows ; and they utter the word 

 creea / creea ! and also have a milder call, like deea ! They 

 sometimes make a chattering noise like the starlings : their 

 French name is le sonneur. 



Choughs are easily tamed, and are very amusing and clever, 

 and may be taught to pronounce many words ; but they are 

 very inquisitive and troublesome, carrying off and hiding 

 any thing they take a fancy to. 



If confined in a cage, they peck and beat about its boun- 

 daries continually, in search of insects. They drink much, 

 and have a habit of soaking any hard substance that is given 

 them in the way of food. In captivity the Chough will eat 

 meat, bread, berries, worms and other insects. In a wild 

 state they are believed to subsist entirely on insect food. 



The Chough breeds only in the most rocky or mountain- 

 ous districts : their nests are placed in the crevices of the 

 rocks, or on the highest towers of ruined castles, or church 

 steeples that are situated on very elevated spots. The nest 

 is constructed of sticks, and lined with such soft substances 

 as can be procured ; and the eggs are four or five in number. 

 In consequence of the great caution the Chough practices, 

 and the inaccessible places it frequents, it is very difficult to 

 obtain specimens either alive or dead ; and the only chance 

 of getting near to them is when they come as low into the 

 valleys, as where the farmer follows his plough, which they 

 sometimes do for the sake of the upturned grubs, when an 

 opportunity of shooting one may occur. As for obtaining 

 the nest and eggs or the young birds, we must be content 

 to be indebted to those venturous persons who are willing to 

 risk life and limb for that purpose. 



In England and Scotland the Chough is found in various 

 suitable localities, chiefly lofty and abrupt headlands in the 



