A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

  • George Montagu
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    67/440 page 39
    rence of three specimens in the neigh- bourhood of Cheltenham; and in the same year, at p. 8032, Dr. Bree states that three specimens were obtained near Col- chester on the 21st of February. It is desii'able to notice here that a great deal has been written, although to little pur- pose, on the amazing diversity of colour exhibited by the several species of Cross- bill ; age, sex and season are doubtless the main causes of this diversity ; but it has hitherto been found impracticable to assign to each of these causes its exact intiuence.] Crow.—A genus of birds, the characters of which are : BUI strait, strong. Nostiils covered with reflected bristles. Tongue bifid at the end. Toes, the outer con- nected to the middle one as far as the first joint. Crow, Carrion.—[Yarrell, ii. S2 •, Hewit- son, huii. 222.] Corvus corone, Lin. Syst. i. p. 155, 3; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 305 ; Ind. Orn. i. p. 152,4; Shaw, Zool. vii. p. 345; Lath. Syn. Slip. ii. p. 108. Comix, Rail Syn. p. 39, A. 2; Will. p. 83; Bris. ii. p. 12, 2; Ib. 8vo, p. 157. La CorneUle, Buf. iii. p. 45, t. 3. Carrion Crow, Br. Zool. i. No. 75, t. 34; Ib. fol. p. 75; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 135 ; Albin. ii. t. 21; Will. Angl. p. 122, t. 18; Lath. Syn. i. p. 370, 3; Lewin, Br. Birds, i. t. 34; Wale. Syn. i. t. 33; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 4. Provincial: Gor Crow ; Minden Crow; Black-nebbed Crow.—This species weighs about nineteen ounces; length eighteen inches ; bill black; irides dusky. The whole plumage black, glossed above with a purpUsh blue; legs black. Distinguished from the Rook by the biU, which is rather more convex towards the end; and the nares, or reflected bristles, at the base being always perfect; but these are only obvious in adults. In young birds the note is the only criterion of distinction, which in this is much more hoarse than that of the Rook. The Crow feeds on flesh, insects, and grain; but is particularly fond of canion. It frequently attacks the eyes of dying animals, and de- steoys weakly lambs; it will also pursue birds on ^ving when pressed by hunger. We once saw this bird in pursuit of a Pigeon, at which it made several pounces, like a Hawk; but the Pigeon escaped by flying in at the door of a house. We have also seen it strike a Pigeon dead from the top of a bam. It is also a great destroyer of young game and poultry. It is a bold bird, always at war with the lessor species of Hawks; nor does the Kite, the Buz- zard, or the Raven approach its nest ^vith- out being attacked and driven away. Even the Peregrine Falcon is insulted at that season, who frequently at one pounce brings it to the ground. These birds keep in pairs all the year; seldom Congre- gate but to regale on some carcase, or in winter to roost; will frequently hide their food till hunger is more pressing. The nest is generaUy placed in the forked branch of a tree; is composed of sticks plastered with eai-th, on which are laid various soft materials, such as wool and hail’. The eggs are four or five in num- ber, of a greenish colour, spotted with dusky and ash-colour; their weight about five drams. Supplement. — It has been said that a pair of these birds made theii’ nest on the vane upon the top of the Exchange at Newcastle, and of course was continually turning as the wind directed. Mr. Bewck states it to be the Rooks that made their nest for many years in that singular situa- tion. In many animals we perceive a strong instinctive impulse that neai’ly ap- proaches to reason; if it cannot be called reflection, it is a compound instinct, not very remote from mental operation. When we observe an animal eat, we consider it as a simple mechanical action, origin- ating from momentary impulse, occa- sioned by sensations of hunger, a stimulus of the organs of repletion to support vi- tality, the first law of all animate beings. If after an animal has satisfied its hunger it seeks a secure place wherein to deposit the remainder for a future demand, it seems to be the effect of some impression neai’ly allied to reflection, and differing from the foi’mer, inasmuch as it bespeaks a forethought, an impression arising from some motive power, distinct from that oc- casioned by the stimulus of immediate want. But what shall we call that which directs such animals to a degree of dis- crimination in the choice of a place for the better security of their intended fu- ture repast? Surely it is a step beyond instinct, and must be considered as a limited reflection, because no momentary impulse exists. We were naturally led into this train of reflection by observing two Crows by the sea-shore busy in re- moving some small fish (the refuse of a fisherman’s net) from the edge of the flomng tide, and conveying them one by one beyond the usual flux of the tide, or just above high-water mark, and there de- posit them under the larger stones or broken rocks, after having most amply satisfied the immediate calls of hunger. The Crow, like the Magpie, is extremely garmlous at the sight of a fox or other small quadruped, and frequently gives in- formation to the sportsman of tho track of the hunted animal. It will strike at a hare nearly half grown, and by repeatedly
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3