The CARRION CROW (_Corvus corona_) and the HOODED CROW (_Corvus cornix_),
are so alike in size and general formation, that if they were denuded of
feathers it would be difficult to distinguish between them. They will
frequently pair together, and both have been the subject of endless
disputes as to whether they are slight varieties of the same species, or
quite distinct from each other.
The Carrion Crow is entirely black, with a violet or purple lustre on
its feathers, and brown eyes. The young are pale black, and their eyes
grey. The plumage of the Hooded Crow, on the contrary, is only black
upon the head, front of throat, wings, and tail; the rest of the body
is ash colour. The young are of a dirty deep grey. The length of both
these birds is from eighteen to nineteen inches, their breadth is from
thirty-eight to forty inches, the wing measures from twelve and a half to
thirteen inches, and the tail seven to eight inches. These two species
usually pass their lives in one limited district, or only leave their
native haunts to make short excursions into the surrounding country.
Wooded pastures are their favourite resorts, such situations being
preferred as are in the immediate neighbourhood of man, whose orchards
they are fond of visiting, though forests or even thick woods seem to
be avoided by these social and intelligent creatures. Their senses
are highly and equally developed; their sight, smell, and hearing are
remarkably perfect, and their movements both in the air and upon the
ground are light and rapid. Like the Raven, they render immense service
to mankind by clearing great numbers of noxious insects from the fields
and gardens; and though, like that bird, they attack wounded animals,
or such as are smaller than themselves, and frequently rob nests of
their contents, their troublesome propensities are far outweighed by the
benefits they confer. At the first dawn of day they congregate in large
numbers upon some tree or building preparatory to going in search of
food, and from thence they wing their flight over the neighbouring fields
and gardens in company with many of their congeners, examining every nook
or furrow in search of their insect fare, robbing nests of their eggs, or
pouncing upon mice as they run from their holes; so courageous are they
that nobler birds of prey are often disappointed of their victims by the
efforts of these comparatively feeble interlopers, who will pursue and
dash round the tyrants of the air in such numbers and with so much energy
as to compel them to relinquish their prey and retire from the field.
At noon the parties of Crows retire to the pleasant shelter of some
thickly-foliaged tree, there to sleep away the mid-day heat, going again
in search of food during the afternoon, and re-assembling towards evening
on their favourite perch to chatter to each other, and (apparently)
discuss the events of the day in a manner with which all are familiar.
The night is passed in some retired group of trees, the birds only taking
possession of their roosting-place after it has been cautiously examined
by several of their party, and entering it with so much wariness that no
sound is audible beyond the soft fluttering of their wings. The period of
incubation commences about February or March, and during this time the
attachment of the male bird to its mare seems redoubled; his whole time
appears to be occupied in rendering himself attractive in her eyes. The
eyrie, which is built at the summit of a lofty tree, is not more than
four inches deep, and is constructed of dry twigs, roots, or couch-grass,
the interior being lined with wool, feathers, bristles, hair, or even
with bits of rag. The nests are usually about two feet broad, and old
nests are often repaired for the reception of the brood. The eggs, three
to five, and occasionally six in number, are laid in April, and in colour
are blueish green, marked with olive green, dark grey, or black spots
and streaks. The female broods alone, but receives the most unremitting
attention from her mate, who only quits her when compelled to go in
search of food; both assist in the nourishment and care of their young,
who are protected and defended from their numerous enemies with the
utmost courage and devotion.
As we have already said, it is by no means uncommon for the Carrion Crow
and the Hooded Crow to pair with each other; in such cases the plumage
of the offspring combines the hues of both parents, and should these
hybrid birds mate among themselves, their young, strangely enough, will
often appear in the perfect plumage of one or other of the pure breed
from which they are descended. Both species will live for a long time in
confinement, but though capable of learning to imitate the human voice,
they possess so many disagreeable tricks as to render their training
a work of much labour and but little enjoyment; their bodies have an
odour that makes it impossible to keep them in a dwelling room, and
if permitted to run at large about the yard or garden they become so
troublesome by their thievish propensities, and love of every bright
or glittering object they may see, as to cause them to be regarded
with little favour by their owners. Many are the enemies against which
these birds have to contend, but none of them is so formidable an
antagonist as the Horned Owl, whose attacks are the more fatal from the
circumstance that they always occur during the night, and thus render the
possibility of eluding them almost hopeless; the Crows, however, take
every opportunity of avenging themselves during the day, and fall upon
their dreaded foe with the utmost ferocity; indeed, so strong is the
hatred with which they regard their arch-enemy that those engaged in Crow
shooting often fasten an owl immediately in front of the small huts under
which they lie concealed, and fire upon the flocks of Crows as they come
down in furious crowds to mob and worry their helpless persecutor.