DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE CARRION-CROW. 333 
of the birds fly into the tree after they had both peregrinated 
about the place for a little, at short intervals. As this bird went 
down on the tree, I put up the glasses, but should have done 
better not to, as I could not catch it again with them. I have 
no doubt it went on to the nest, and was lost in the very act 
of my raising the glasses. It looks as though incubation were 
now begun. 
May 13th.—Got to my placeat 4.15 a.m. All was quite still 
and silent—there seemed to be no life in the dark fir-tree—but 
at 4.20 one of the fronds at its top dipped and swayed, then came 
some vigorous ‘‘arrreings,” and off the bird went. After an 
absence of less than ten minutes, in which I heard her voice (or 
her mate’s) always near about, and in the trees, she returned, or, 
more strictly, a bird came on to the nest. In another five 
minutes the partner bird flew up, went first into a tree close 
beside the nesting one, and then into the latter. I did not 
observe any materials in the bill either of this or the other bird, 
but this does not exclude the possibility that the interior of the 
nest is still being shaped. If this is not the case, and if incuba- 
tion is proceeding, then I cannot say for certain whether there 
was now a change on the nest or not. I can say, however, that 
the exit of one of the birds, shortly afterwards, was from pre- 
cisely the same spot where the bird alighted, that the dark mass 
of the nest was visible a little under this, and that there was no 
commotion or appearance suggesting a change, as I believe there 
would have been had there been one. The time for which the 
two birds were together on or at the nest was also a little longer 
than it generally is, in my experience, when one comes for the 
special purpose of relieving the other on the eggs. During this 
time there were low, croodling, affectionate sounds, very pleasant 
to hear, all in the Crow intonation, but much softer. The bird 
left on the nest did not stay there five minutes after the other 
had gone, but flew off, then in about another five minutes 
returned—strictly there was a return to the nest, and then, at 
similar short intervals, another departure and return. Since 
this time—it igs now, when I write, 5.20—there has, I believe, 
been continuous sitting or continuous occupation of the nest, 
but in this I may be mistaken, for I have not kept my eyes con- 
tinuously fixed on the tree, and now on leaving, a little later, I 
