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CARRION CROW. 
and neck longer, and more marked. In the 
height of plumage, during the breeding season, 
its clear and dark glossy plumage, with brilliant 
steel-blue reflections, render it a beautiful object 
for the ornithologist. 
The Carrion Crow, Corvus corone, Linn. 
— Corvus corone , Linn. fyc . — Carrion Crow of 
British authors. — The British species, next in 
size and strength to the llaven, is the Carrion 
Crow, so named apparently from its preference 
to dead animal matter, either newly killed, or in 
a state of carrion. This bird is of very common 
distribution over the greater part of Britain, 
inhabiting chiefly wooded districts, and the pre- 
sence of a dying or newly killed animal is surely 
indicated by the assemblage of these birds ; but 
although this is the case, the food is very various, 
or rather indiscriminate, grain, berries, insects, 
weak or small animals, young birds, eggs, &c. ; 
and it is chiefly persecuted on account of its 
depredations on the game, attacks on the poultry 
yard, or occasionally on weak lambs or fallen 
sheep ; from the latter we have at times seen the 
eyes torn out before the animal was dead, and 
before it could be relieved. Minnows and small 
fishes are frequently watched for in the shallow 
pools by the edges of rivers, &c. and on the coast 
the sea wrack is almost daily examined, the shoals 
are waded through, and in both abundance of food 
is obtained ; shell-fish is also eaten, and the manner 
