12 CROW. 



This species is common every where in England, and at all times 

 gregarious, and great numbers often form themselves into societies, 

 particularly in breeding time, chusing a clump of the largest and 

 tallest trees whereon to make their nests. These are called Rooke- 

 ries, and from their perpetual chatter, and litter they occasion, are to 

 most people a great annoyance. The eggs as in the Crow, but smaller, 

 and the spots larger ; they begin to build early in March ; the male 

 and female sit by turns, and after the breeding season roost elsewhere; 

 in their going and returning from their haunts, they sometimes are in 

 such vast flocks as to darken the air. In England they remain 

 throughout the year, but in France and Silesia are migratory. We 

 do not see it in Aso's list, as a bird of Spain, though the Crow is 

 mentioned ; and Mr. White has assured me, that he never met with 

 either Crow or Rook in Gibraltar. Linnaeus ranks it among his 

 Swedish birds ; but neither Brunnich nor Muller mention it as be- 

 longing to Denmark ; nor is it in Georgi's list of the birds of Lake 

 Baikal. It is, however, not uncommon in Russia, and the west 

 part of Siberia, particularly in the more southern latitudes. 



M. Levaillant met with many at the Cape of Good Hope, * but 

 observes, that they are not bare about the nostrils ; and if so, this no 

 doubt must arise from some different mode of procuring food. I do 

 not find it mentioned as an American species. 



It is said that there are no Rooks in the Isle of Jersey, although 

 Crows and Magpies are not unfrequent, nor is it certain that the Jay 

 inhabits that Island. 



* Whether it is this or the Hooded Crow we are not clear, but Linschoten, in his Voyages 

 p. 84, says, that in India " there are a most wonderful number of black Crows, which do 

 " much hurt, and are so bold, that oftentimes they come flying in at their windows, and take 

 " the meat out of the dish, as it standeth on the table before them that are set down to eate ; 

 " and as I myself sate writing above in a chamber, the windowes being open, one flew in at the 

 "window, picked the cotton out of my inkehorne, and blotted all the paper that lay on nry 

 «« table, do what I could to let him. They sitte commonly uppon the Buffles backes, and 

 " pecke off their haire." &c. &c. I suspect these not to be the common Crow, as this is not 

 known to congregate. 



