CORVUS CORNIX, Lem.

Hooded Crow.

Corvus cornia, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 30.
cinereus, Leach, Syst. Cat. of Indig. Mamm. and Birds in Brit. Mus. p. 18
— subcornix, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl., p. 168.
Corone cornix, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst., p. 99.

 

r 3 ig 1 ee atic ¢ 1O'Kr , vl
THe Hooded Crow is strictly a migrant in the southern parts of England, arriving from the north
early in October and departing again in April. All,

however, do not leave us; for individuals have
been known to remain, form an alliance,

and occasionally breed with the Common Crow ; still such
alliances must be regarded as exceptional.

the Thames, the open pastures of Suffolk and Hertfordshire (particularly near Royston, in the latter
county, whence its trivial name of Royston Crow), the rabbit-warrens of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk,
or similar districts in other parts of England, must have frequently seen this species. Lord Lilford informs
me that in Northamptonshire ‘a few pairs make their appearance early in November, and frequent
the valley of the Nene; and in that of the Welland, which separates North Hants from Rutland and
Leicestershire, it is even more common.” A few words only are necessary to give the reader an idea
of its distribution over other parts of England. In autumn, winter, and early spring it is spread over
nearly all our flat shores, from north to south and from east to west, as well as in similar situations
in Scotland and Ireland. The rich arable lands of the interior are, as a rule, without its presence ; there
the Common Crow takes its place.

The Hooded Crow is said to be very rarely found in Iceland, and not in Greenland or America. On
the continent of Europe its dispersion is as general as in our islands in all situations congenial to its habits.
[t is abundant in the Crimea, in Palestine, Asia Minor, and on the banks of the Nile. So far as we yet
know, it does not occur in India; neither, I believe, is it found in South Africa, although it proceeds
from the shores of the Mediterranean into the interior of the northern part of that continent. In Egypt
and Palestine it is the foster-parent (and, according to Mr. Tristram and Mr. Taylor, the only foster-parent
in those countries) of the Spotted Cuckoo (Ovylophus glandarius), whose very dissimilar eggs it hatches
and rears the young, just as the small birds do here the egg and young of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus
canorus). How strange is all this! and how little do we know of the influence these parasitic birds
exercise over those by which they are surrounded, both great and small!‘ In Norway,” we learn from
Mr. Hewitson, ‘it inhabits here and there the boundless forest, but never at any great distance from
the sea, arising probably from its partiality to shell-fish.” Mr. Wheelwright ouly saw a single pair in
the district of Quickiock, in Lapland.

«Although somewhat more sociable than the Carrion Crow or Raven, the Hooded Crow,” says Macgillivray,
“is not gregarious ; for, although four or five individuals may often be seen together, more than that
number seldom convene unless when attracted by an abundant supply of food. It derives its subsistence
from carrion, dead fish, crabs, echini, mollusca, larva, grain, and other matters, being fully as promiscuous
a feeder as the Carrion Crow or the Raven, although it certainly prefers fish and mollusca to large carcasses,
and very rarely feeds upon a stranded whale or even a domestic animal. Young lambs are favourite
delicacies, and in severe seasons sometimes afford an abundant temporary supply. I am not, however,
inclined to believe that it often destroys those animals, or that it ventures to attack sickly sheep. In
districts frequented by it, you commonly find it along the shore, sometimes among the rocks, searching
for crabs and shell-fish (which it has sagacity enough, when it cannot otherwise open them, to raise in
the air and drop to the ground), sometimes on the beach, especially if fish or echini have been cast

i » Hebrides thé »y have obtained the name
up. The latter are so frequently devoured by them in the Hebrides that they have obtain e €

of Hooded-Crows’ cups.” oe :

St. John, speaking of the Hooded Crow in Sutherland, says it 1s ‘‘ numerous everyw ere, in spite

i manage to evade all attempts at their extirpation, and to
5

of traps and guns. Wary and strong, they j
of eggs of every kind. I consider the Hooded
St d

keep up their indiscriminate and wholesale destruction

Crow to be the greatest enemy to game, and, indeed, to all other birds, that we have.

. Re ateas hie se mischievous robbers, the
‘‘There are one or two grassy hillocks near the lakes, to which those mis ;

: geet , have pilfered, in order
Hooded Crows, bring the eggs which they have pilfered, il age :
never passed these places without finding the fresh remains o

to eat them at their leisure; and,

until I administered a dose of strychnia, I

7s a : :
Those who have visited the flat shores of the lower part of