GREY CROW. 
order to be thoroughly appreciated, as any description must fall short of the reality. Towards the latter end 
of December 1881, 1 observed a party of eight or ten of these birds “mobbing” a Rough-legged Buzzard, 
which was beating about over some rush-marshes in Norfolk. One or two would lly round, croaking as they 
went, and, after two or three turns, settle at some short distance. Others would then take up the attack, 
repeatedly dashing down, as if with the intention of striking, but taking evidently especial care to keep at a 
respectful distance. This style of warfare was carried on for some twenty minutes or half an hour, when the 
Buzzard (who paid little or no attention to the noisy demonstrations of his assailants), having searched over 
the marshes without success, flapped slowly off to a large oak, and took up his position on one oi the topmost 
branches. After wheeling round, screaming and croaking loudly for several minutes, the dingy rabble broke 
up, and departed in various directions ; three of their number, however, shortly returned and settled in the 
outside branches of the same tree, at a distance of eight or ten feet irotn the Buzzard. It was difficult to 
account for their animosity, as Hawks (the Common and Rough -legged Buzzards, the various Harriers, and an 
occasional wandering Peregrine) are by no means uncommon in the locality, and I have seldom noticed 
the Crows to exhibit any excessive signs of displeasure at their presence. This particular bird, for some 
inexplicable cause, appeared to be regarded as a special object of hatred. For an hour at least they continued to 
give vent to a succession of the most discordant and unpleasant sounds I ever heard proceed from the throats of 
any living creatures : to describe them I am utterly unable. While so engaged, they occasionally stretched out 
their necks, and assumed what I suppose was intended for a threatening attitude; they, however, confined 
themselves to this noisy manner of expressing their auger, and, having at length apparently exhausted 
themselves by their efforts, first one and then the remaining two flew slowly back to the marshes, leaving the 
Buzzard in undisputed possession of the situation. During the whole of the time he had been exposed to this 
abusive outcry, lie had remained without changing for a moment his position on the tree, or exhibiting the 
slightest signs of annoyance, treating their clamour, indeed, with utter contempt. For another hour or so 
after their departure he retained his perch, utterly regardless, as before, of an occasional visit, one or two 
of his former assailants returning from time to time and after circling once or twice round the tree, again 
beating a retreat. 
On the sea-shore I have noticed these birds harassing and attacking any stranger that made his appearance, 
weary and worn out by the force of the autumnal gales. In the latter end of October 1879, I observed several 
Pomerine Skuas drifting before a strong north-easterly breeze along the coast. Occasionally they would settle 
on the sandbanks a few yards distant from the breakers; but in not a single instance were they permitted to 
rest above a moment or two, as a party of Crows would swoop down on them at once, and, with threatening 
screams, compel them to move on. The squalls of rain and mist obscured the view beyond the distance of a 
few hundred yards, or, I conclude, I must have seen some of the poor wanderers (who were evidently exhausted 
by the buffeting of the storm) struck down and killed by their numerous assailants. 
I have frequently come across Grey Crows feeding on the refuse, dead fish and other garbage, that is 
carried from the mouths of harbours or rivers by the ebb-tide. They will occasionally follow the floating filth 
a considerable distance at sea, hovering over the water, and stooping down and seizing in their beaks any 
temptin'' 1 morsel as it bobs up and down in the current. At such times they are often seen in company of 
Gulls Lesser Blackbacks and Herring-Gulls in immature plumage, and numbers of Common Gulls in all 
stages The Crows are by no means backward in plundering these unfortunate birds when they may have 
secured any particularly inviting fragment. I have watched as many as forty or fifty of these robbers engaged 
in this manner at once. While seeking their food in this somewhat unusual fashion, I have but little doubt 
that they may have been at times mistaken for Skua Gulls. Early in November 1879, a week or so after the 
disastrous October gales had driven large flights of Skuas to our shores, I met with a couple of gentlemen on 
the beach near Yarmouth, evidently greatly interested by witnessing a score or two of Crows feeding in 
