308 
CORVIM. 
In the 1st volume of Tracts printed for the Irish Archaeo- 
logical Society, it is remarked, in f A Brife description of Ireland, 
made in this yeere 1589, by Robert Payne/ that , — “ There is not 
that place in Ireland where anye venomous thinge will liue. There 
is neither mol, pye, nor carren crow.” In a note to this, Dr. 
Aquilla Smith of Dublin, who edited the memoir, observed : — “ Of 
the carren or carrion crow ( Corvus cor one), we have not any 
authority as to the date of its introduction into Ireland. Moryson 
[in 1617] says, we have not the blacke crow, but onely crowes of 
mingled colour, such as wee call Royston crows,” part iii. b. 3. 
p. 160. Although the attractive magpie may have been intro- 
duced to this country, I cannot think that the carrion crow ever 
was, but believe it to be strictly indigenous. Its comparative 
scarcity in this island, and not being commonly distinguished 
from its equally sable congener the rook, may account for its 
having been overlooked, 
This species was included by Smith, as one of the birds of the 
county of Cork ; but that it was not well known in Ireland, is 
sufficiently indicated by the absence of its name from Mr. Tem- 
pleton's published catalogue of the native vertebrate animals. 
That eminent naturalist has remarked in his MS. — “ I have not 
seen this bird, but from what I have heard, am inclined to think 
it is found about Dundalk.” About the river Lagan, within the 
flow of the tide, and along the shores of Belfast bay, this crow is 
sometimes met with, and feeds upon any animal matter cast up 
by the waves, but more especially on the carcasses of horses, 
which after being skinned, are left upon the beach. The refuse of 
the slaughter-house, when spread on meadows for manure, parti- 
cularly attracts it inland. 
The carrion crow is known to me, as found in the north, east, 
and west of the island : in the south, as already mentioned, it is 
noticed by Smith, but was never seen by Mr. R. Ball during his 
residence at Youghal ; nor by the Rev. Joseph Stopford, who has 
given much attention to the birds of the county of Cork. The 
species is well known to this gentleman, from his having often shot 
it in England. About Clonmel, however, Mr. R. Davis, junr.. 
