134 
CORVIDS. 
favourable than those of other observers, but unfortunately I 
have repeatedly seen the bone or the mollusc dropped upon 
soft sandy ground, or even uj^on short grass.^ In most cases, 
however, it is let fall upon the shore, where a nice aim indeed 
would be required to avoid the stones. Once I saw a Hooded 
Crow drop a piece of bone upon the only patch of sandy 
ground on a long line of rocky coast, and it was not until after 
frequent and persevering trials that the bone w^as accidentally 
broken upon a small rock. How, had that spot been the only 
rocky one in the neighbourhood, or even had it been occupied 
at the time by some Shetland H^schylus, I should doubtless 
have lost no time in presenting a full account of the fact to 
the readers of the “Zoologist,” in illustration of the almost 
human sagacity displayed by the Hooded Crow. After a 
heavy gale, it may be seen carrying away the roots of sea-weed 
to some safe place, where undisturbed it may pick out the 
small shells, &c., which they contain. 
Many years ago my brother and I — then accompanying 
him on a naturalist’s expedition, as my first introduction to 
Shetland — were on the little island of Hunie, when a Hooded 
Crow paid a visit to the breeding grounds there, with what 
intention I know not, unless he felt himself unable to resist 
the attractions offered by the eggs and young birds. Instantly 
the whole body of terns arose, and assailed him so determinedly 
that he was glad to make off with all possible speed for the 
opposite shore. But his retreat was not considered sufficient, 
and the angry little terns followed him like a swarm of bees, 
even after lie had left the island. One made a dash at him, 
and he stooped to avoid the blow; another and another followed 
up the attack so rapidly, that the crow, dropping as each one 
approached, gradually descended nearer to the w^ater without 
being able to rise a single foot. Lower and lower he went, 
* Another writer on the natural history of this species, having perceived this 
error, at once concludes that the object of the bird is not to fracture the shell, 
but to kill the animal by concussion. It is difficult to imagine the advantage 
which would be thus gained in the case of a periwinkle, for instance, nor are we 
told what Hoodie intends to “concuss” within a marrow-bone. 
