CHAPTER LXiy. 



THE CROW. 



Corvus cor one, Lin. ; La Corneille, Buf. 



Description and Character. — The Crow, or Carrion Grow, 

 as it is not infrequently termed, on account of its partiality 

 for putrid flesh, is also known as the Black Crow, Corby 

 Crow, and Gore Crow. It bears a striking resemblance 

 to the Raven, though considerably smaller, and is regarded 

 by some naturalists as a link between that bird and the 

 Rook. It is bold and daring, very mischievous and destructive 

 in its habits, and held in great abhorrence by agriculturists, 

 gardeners, and gamekeepers. These birds select a home in 

 some well-cultivated district, and not infrequently in the 

 neighbourhood of pheasant preserves, or where partridges 

 abound. They root up and destroy, not only the newly- 

 sown seed corn, but also the young blades of the plants, as 

 soon as they appear above ground, and neither guns nor 

 scarecrows prove effectual remedies against their depredations. 



Although it is unquestionably a fact that they destroy 

 large quantities of moles, field mice, worms, grubs, and 

 similar pests, they are so predatory and voracious as to be 

 quite intolerable. They devour both the eggs and young 

 of pheasants, partridges, and grouse, and stealthily approach 

 farmyards and carry off young chickens and ducklings, and 

 even eat the eggs. They are very destructive to fruit, and 

 have an especial weakness for cherries ; they also pluck off 

 walnuts before they are matured, and eat them. Like most 

 of their tribe, they are great gluttons, and when hungry are 



