82 
British Corvidoe. 
It may coiifulpiitly be recommondod tn aiiyliody in search of an 
easily-kept and attractive pet. 
The CHorOrii {Punhneoia.r graculvs) : This species 
is difRcult to obtain. Formeily it frequented the cliffs on 
the south coast in larg-e numbers, but now only a limited 
number remain in isolated districts. In the Isle of 
Man and the west of Ireland, however, it is l)y no means 
uncommon, especially in the latter refirion. Very few are to 
be discovered V>reeding- in the Cornish ClifTs now. The Cornish 
Choufjh is very useful as a show bird. He is very handsome, 
indeed, with his plumaj^ of brilliant black, and his legs and 
curved beak of bright red. There is also the Alpine Chough, 
whose slender claim to be a Bi'itish bird rests on the fact that 
a .specimen was once shot at Banbury! It had probably es- 
caped from confinement, and paid for its stolen liberty with its 
life. This bird is distinguished fi'om its Cornish confrere by 
having a yellow bill. As its name denotes, it is an inhabitant 
of the Alpine districts. It is common in the Tyrol, from which 
locality I obtained my specimens. Choughs should be fed as 
Jays, and are equally interesting. 
Thk Nutcr.\ckek Ckow {Xucifraga caryocatacfr.-s) . A 
very rare British visitor. Although rarely seen in a 
state of nature in these isles, it is common in the pine forests 
