HOODED CROW. 
93 
in May, 1884, along the highway in Knaptoft Parish, when I saw a Crow about two 
hundred yards in front on the roadside, which seemed to me, at that distance, 
to be fighting with another, but as I drov^e within fifteen yards of it, I was 
astonished to find it trying to kill a Mole, and on my stopping, it collared the 
animal with its beak, flew over the hedge with it, and then commenced again.” 
Mr. Davenport writes : — “ A very small, dark-green egg was taken (from a 
nest containing one other) by me near Kolleston in April, 1882; a precisely 
similar egg in every respect was taken at the same place in April, 1883, from a 
nest containing four others. Both eggs are in my collection. The old birds 
had frequented the neighbourhood during the intervening winter.” He further 
records a third, also similar, taken on 13th April, 1885. 
In Eutlaxd. — Eesident, and generally distributed. — iMr. Horn appears to 
find it most abundant in the woods and water-meadows near Uppingham, having 
taken, in April, 1886, between thirty and forty eggs in clutches of four, five, 
and six. 
HOODED CEOW.* Corvus cornix, Linn«us. 
“ Grey Crow,” “ Grey-backed Crow,” “ Eoyston Crow,” “ Saddle- 
backed Crow.” 
A regular winter visitant, sparingly distributed, and not remaining to 
breed. — Mentioned by Mr. Babington (Appendix ‘Potter,’ p. 68) as having 
been seen near Charnwood Heath, and he himself had seen specimens said to 
have been killed near Leicester. Harley noted its first appearance at various 
dates, commencing 25th Oct., and extending over a period of fourteen days, 
and remarked that, from then until about 21st March, it might be observed 
on our uplands and wilds, its range being chiefly limited to the forest of 
Charnwood and the surrounding district. ]Mr. Ingram writes : — “ Five or six 
pairs generally visit Belvoir every November, remaining until spring ; often 
near the kennels, the smell of flesh attracting them.” The late Mr. Widdowson 
noted the appearance of this bird in the vicinity of Melton nearly every winter. 
Turner reports one shot in the Abbey meadow about 1870 ; and a specimen, 
which I saw in the possession of the once celebrated prize-fighter, Joseph 
(“ ^Mickey ”) Bent, was said to have been shot by a Mr. Large, near Melton 
Mowbray, somewhere about the year 1873. ]\Ir. Macaulay records one (‘Mid. 
Nat.’, 1882, p. 64) obtained at Skeffington in 1875, and further informs me of 
one seen by him at Saddington Eeservoir on 7th Jan., 1885. I purchased one 
for the Museum, obtained from Eothley Plain on 2nd Feb., 1881, and another, 
* Although both of these birds are now considered as one and the same, and not worthy 
of separate specific rank (see Yarrell, Vol. II., pp. 274 — 288, and other works, as also the 
illustratiYe case of mounted specimens in all stages of variation exhibited in the entrance- 
hall, Natural History Museum, South Kensington), yet I have deemed it advisable to keep 
them separate in this work, for obvious reasons. 
