258 



HOODED CROW. 



it was the Honey Buzzard. They are said to be found in the open parts 

 of Norway, Russia, and Siberia, near the woods, and to feed upon small 

 lizards and caterpillars, both smooth and hairy ; all of which have been 

 found in its stomach on dissection. 



This elegant bird is distinguished from all its congeners, by the 

 small round and closely set feathers that cover the space between the 

 bill and eyes. This peculiarity has induced Cuvier to add it to his 

 genus or division, Pernis. 



It builds its nest in lofty trees like the common buzzard, and lays 

 four white eggs, spotted with reddish brown. Mr. White mentions one 

 egg only being found in the nest, which contained the embryo young ; 

 he describes it as smaller, and not so round as that of the buzzard, 

 dotted at each end with small red spots, and surrounded in the middle 

 with a broad bloody zone. 



HOODED CROW (Corvus Comix, Linnaeus.) 



Corvus comix, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 156.5 — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 366. 5 Tnd. Orn. 1. 



p. 153. 7 Temm. 1. 109 Cornix cinerea, Raii, Syn. p. 39. A. 4 Will. p. 



88. t. 18. and 77 Briss. 2. p. 19. 4.— La Corneille mantelee, Buff. 3. p. 61. 



t. 4 Royston Crow, Will. (Angl.) p. 124. 1. 18. ll.—Albin, 2. t. 23.— Hooded 



Crow, Br. Zool. 1. No. 11.— Ib. fol. p. 76. t. D. 1 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 251. D. 



Lath. Syn. 1. p. 374. 5.— Ib. Sup. p. ll.—Lewin's Br. Birds, 1. t. 36. — Wale. 

 Syn. 1. t. 35.— Don. Br. Birds, t. 117.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 5 Flem. 87. 



Provincial. — Hoody. Dun Crow. Scare Crow. Bunting Crow. 



Grey-backed Crow. 



This species weighs about twenty -two ounces; length twenty-one 

 inches; bill black, in size and shape like the carrion crow; irides dusky; 

 the head, underside of the neck, the point of the breast, wings, and 

 tail, are of a glossy bluish-black ; belly, back, scapulars, and upper side 

 of the neck, are of a light ash-colour ; legs and claws black. 



The Hooded Crow visits the southern parts of this kingdom in 

 October, and retires northward to breed in the beginning of April ; it is 

 found in some parts of Scotland during the summer ; and we have re- 

 ceived its eggs from Ireland, in some parts of which it continues the 

 whole year. 



The nest and eggs are similar to those of the common crow. In 

 England these birds are principally found near the sea-coast, where the 

 various animal matter, thrown up by the tide, affords a constant supply 

 of food. It is also seen in considerable abundance upon some of our 

 downs, or in the open champaign parts, where it feeds on grain, worms, 

 and carrion. Ten or a dozen are not unusually seen perched together 

 in the neighbourhood of a dead sheep, patiently watching till the shep- 

 herd's dog has filled his paunch, and, retiring to his master's cot, is 

 slunk in deep repose. Like the last species, it attacks the eyes of 



