THE ZOOLOGIST 
No. 855.—September 15th. 1912. 
AN OBSERVATIONAL DIARY ON THE DOMESTIC 
HABITS OF THE CARRION-CROW (CORVUS 
CORONE). 
By Epmunp SEtous. 
Havine found a Crow’s nest near the French town in which, 
at the time of making these notes, I was living, I determined to 
watch it, in order to gain some insight into the domestic habits 
of the species. The nest was situated in a small beech-tree, 
being one of a row, forming the line of intersection of two 
meadows, or open spaces of pasturage, lying a little off one of 
the roads from the town. It was easy to watch, which is the 
only essential point. The following is my diary of observation. 
I should here premise that the pronoun ‘“‘he” or ‘‘ she” does 
not imply certainty in regard to the bird’s sex, but likelihood (in 
my view) only. 
April 18th, 1910.—Got into position at 4.30 a.m., and heard 
the first very deep, hoarse ‘‘arrr” at 4.45. It was uttered 
three times, and twice, again, five minutes afterwards, not by 
the sitting bird—for the nest was occupied—but some other one 
—the partner presumably—in the neighbourhood. 
5.4.—Crow flies up to the nest, and for an instant stands in 
the cup of it, above the sitting bird—well in view, though 
partially concealed by the cavity. He then flies down, and is 
followed almost directly by the sitting bird, who before was 
hardly to be seen. Both, I think, go down on the ground— 
probably to search for food—though I cannot see them. It was 
certainly the bird who flew up to the nest, who first flew off it 
* Zool. 4th ser. vol. XVI., September, 1912. 2 
