Ornithological Observations and Reflections in Shetland. 373 
silent. During the breeding season they have a deep gutteral 
note at their command, and they also utter one a good deal 
like it, but accentuated, when under the combined influence 
of terror and indignation, as when approached closelv whilst 
on the nest. 
Oct. 8th. — The Ringed Plovers are not now in evidence on 
the seashore. Their place is taken by some very different birds 
— Crows, namely, of the Hooded variety (Scottice Hoodies). 
These — and the remark applies to all their tribe — are ‘ nothing 
if not theatrical.’ Their ‘ business,’ as one may call it is 
redundant and seems to make a stage of the foreshore. With 
a grotesque kind of stealth, an exaggerated wariness which 
seems wholly unnecessary, they approach a rock not large 
enough to conceal any enemy, and after some sideway glances, 
expressive of deep penetration, pick off something from 
amidst the seewead that clothes it, with which they retire. 
It can only be a small limpet, for (as after examination shows), 
there is nothing else edible on the rock, yet it cannot now be 
contemplated without a look — or rather looks — of diabolical 
cunning. Nothing is done by these birds as other birds would 
do it, that is to say in an ordinary unreflective way. With 
them every peck is a matter of strategy, of successful tactics, 
something entitling the giver of it to congratulate himself as 
being the possessor of a highly superior intelligence. This, 
in point of fact, may be the case. Marvellous stories are told 
of Crow cunning, but, allowing them to have it, yet this is 
undoubted, that they have the appearance of having it in a 
still higher degree. They masquerade with this, so to speak, 
it is a property of theirs, the mysterious cloak of the stage 
murderer, with his ‘ damnable faces ’ is ever about them. 
Though these Crows form a band, yet a little observation 
soon makes it evident that they go in pairs. That they mate 
for life has, indeed, often been asserted, and is, no doubt, 
correct, but whatever credit this may entitle them to (in com- 
mon with numbers of other birds — perhaps the great majority), 
the relations which it brings about are not wholly amicable. 
Should anything too large to be immediately disposed of, be 
found by the male, the female hops up and apparently puts 
in a claim to a share of it ; but the plea is not allowed unless 
the haul is so considerable as to admit (after a time) of a second 
appetite, without wrong done to the first. In this case, the 
position and rights of the partner are recognised, or at least 
not strongly disputed. Should, however, the female Crow be 
the finder, the male asserts his right, as superior, and is deferred 
to because he has might to support it. This is obviously not 
quite the same as might being right in nature, and I am happy 
to say that the distinction applies to a number of other cases 
which I have observed, and not to this one alone. It is only 
1014 Dec. 1. 
