OK, PLAIN TEACHING. 



249 



Jk> be tumbling, rather than flying ; they pro- 

 ceed only a few yards, and again alight. They 

 will sometimes in the dusk skim within a few 

 feet of a person, uttering a kind of low chatter 

 as they pass. 



The nest of the carrion crow, 

 17, will frequently be found in 



17 



650. 



thick woodlands ; it is strongly 

 framed with sticks, warmly lined 

 with wool or hair, and nearly 

 always a considerable height 

 from the ground. Ragged thorns, 

 mountain ash trees, spruce fir, 

 Scotch pine, and oak, are the 

 favourite trees, and the nest is 

 often built in the barest tree 

 that the wood affords. The 

 eggs are five or six. 



The carrion crow is a very early riser ; and, 

 long before the rook is on the wing, you hear 

 this bird announcing the approach of morn, with 

 his loud hollow Croaking, from the oak to which 

 he had resorted the night before. He retires 

 to rest later than the rook ; indeed, as far as 

 I have been able to observe his motions, I 

 consider him the first bird on wing in the 

 morning, and the last at night, of all our non- 

 migratmg diurnal British Birds. 



The rook inhabits wooded and 

 cultivated districts. Early in 

 the spring they visit their nests 

 of the preceding year, and begin 

 to repair them for use ; and 

 some new nests are built by the 

 young birds of the previous 

 year. The eggs are of a palish 

 green, four or five in number. 

 11* 



During the period of incubation, the male 

 feeds the female constantly, and occasionally 

 takes her place upon the eggs. Both birds 

 labour incessantly to support their young when 

 hatched, and may be seen early and late col- 

 lecting food for them in the various modes 

 already described, the dilatable skin under the 

 tongue distended with a conspicuous mass, 

 which is thus softened and rendered suitable 

 to young and delicate organs. The nest trees 

 are in some cases deserted from the time when 

 the young ones fly, and all the inhabitants of 

 the rookery roost together in some neighbour- 

 ing wood, from whence at an early hour they 

 repair in flocks to their feeding-ground, re- 

 turning together with slow and measured flight 

 in the evening. Whenever the main body are 

 feeding, or otherwise engaged on the ground, 

 two or three individuals are generally seen 

 posted like sentinels in trees close by ; their 

 note of caution or alarm appears to be per- 

 fectly understood by the rest, and surprise or 

 danger avoided by a concerted understanding 

 among them.* 



Remaining still, and watching 

 the movements of the tenants of 

 the trees, we may be gratified by 

 seeing the movements of the 

 squirrel, 18 ; his form, manners, 

 and feats of dexterity are very 

 pleasing. On extraordinary oc- 



18 



651. 



casions, when he is animated by 

 love or anger, his muscles acquire 

 tenfold elasticity. He descends 

 a tree in a rapid spiral as quick 

 as thought — darts up another in 

 an opposite direction — flings him- 

 self from tree to tree with amazing 

 exactness, and pursues his mate 

 or rival among the mazy branches 



• Yar. ell B.Br itbh Birds 



