96 



On the Ornithology of Wilts \Cormdw\. 



Marlborough and Calne, by a man employed in keeping birds from 

 corn : this must have been very near, if not in my own Parish of 

 Yatcsbnry. In addition to this, Blyth tho editor of White's Sol- 

 borne, records the capture of another of this species on Salisbury 

 Plain ; and I have one more instance of its occurrence in the 

 County hitherto unpublished, for the Pev. F. Dyson killed one 

 many years since on the downs at Tidworth, where two had been 

 seen hovering about for many days previous. This I fear is likely 

 to be the last specimen of this truly graceful bird, wandering to 

 our County, for it is now become very rare even in those localities 

 on the sea coast where it was once most numerous, and will pro- 

 bably soon be classed in that sad catalogue of species, which once 

 abundant are now exterminated by the ruthless rage for slaughter 

 so prevalent with all classes, in which the noble Bustard already 

 figures, and will soon be joined by the Kite and the Bittern, and 

 many another interesting bird with which the last generation was 

 familiar. 



"Paven" (Corvus corax). If the Crows exhibit more intelli- 

 gence than all other families as is often asserted, here we have the 

 most sagacious of the Crows : unlike many of its congeners, the 

 Paven lives for the most part a solitary life, at least in this Country 

 for I have seen some numbers of them together in Norway. It is 

 by far the largest of all the pie tribe in Europe, of strong robust 

 shape, of grave and dignified bearing ; its plumage of the deepest 

 and glossiest black, with purple blue and green reflections. The 

 term Paven is derived from an old word signifying to tear away, 

 or snatch and devour, alluding to its voracious plundering habits, 

 for it not only feeds on carrion, but attacks weak and sickly ani- 

 mals and birds. It is supposed to live to a very great age, but 

 this does not seem to have ever been satisfactorily proved : it pairs 

 for life, and breeds very early in the year, returning, if undisturbed 

 annually to the same spot for the purpose ; but it always drives 

 away the young birds when they are fully fledged and able to 

 provide for themselves. Extremely wary and impatient of molesta- 

 tion, it has been expelled from many of its old accustomed breeding 

 places by the persecution of gamekeepers and others ; not many 



