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.

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    buffeting make a prey of the exhairsted animal. In a summer evening’s ramble we observed one of these birds make repeated pounces 'at something in a field, where the grass was nearly a foot high, and at the same time some animal was seen to erect itself ui)on the hind legs, and stoutly defend itself. After a contest of some minutes, curiosity prompted to discover what the animal was, and upon nearer approach discovered it to be a young hai'e. A similar circumstance, but of a very different auiinal, occurred, in which the Crow met with liis match. Taking a morning’s lide, several Crows were heard in a neighbouring field to be very clamorous; judging that they had seen something that induced them to give the alarm call, and assemble all their con- geners within hearing, we rode to the spot, where we arrived just in time to witness a feat of activity and intrepidity that afforded inexpressible delight. Many and repeated pounces were made at some diminutive animal on the ground, but what, the little grass there was prevented us from seeing; however, in a few minutes a small creatm-e was observed to meet a Crow in its descent, who had been more bold than the rest, and made a neai’er ap- proach ; and a consequent struggle ensued on the ground, but of short duration. At this crisis we approached, and found that a Weasel had seized a Crow by the neck, and had killed it, but ran from its prey, and took shelter in a neighbouring hedge till we had retreated to some distance, when the little animal returned and dragged the Crow under cover of the bushes. The Carrion Crow aud the Rook are both found as far north as Zetland, but are only occasional visitants. The Hooded Crow is common and stationary, as well as the Raven. Crow, Black-nebbed.—See Crow Carrion. Crow, Bunting.) ^row. Hooded. Crow, Dim. j Crow, Gor.—See Crow, Canion. Crow, Great Corbie.—See Raven. Crow, Hooded. — [^Yairell, ii. 86; Heiv- itson, Iviii. 224.] Corvus Cornix, Lin. Syst. i. p. 156, 5; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 366, 5; Ind. Orn. i. p. 153, 7. Cornix einerea, Eaii Syn. p. 39, A. 4; Will. p. 88, t. 18 & 77 ; Bris. ii. p. 19, 4. La ComeiUe man- tele, Buf. iii. p. 61, t. 4. Royston Crow, Will. Angl. p. 124,1.18, 77; Alhin. ii. t. 23. Hooded Crow, Br. Zool. i. No. 77; Ib. fol. p. 76, t. D. 1; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 251, D.; Lath. Syn. i. p. 374, 6 j Ib. Sup. p. 77; Lewin, Br. Birds, i. t. 36 ; Wale. Syn. i. t. 35 ; Don. Br. Birds, v. t. 117 ; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 5. Provincial: Dun Crow; Scai'e Crow ; Bunting Crow. — This spe- cies weighs about twenty-two ounces; length twenty-one inches; bill black, in size and shape like the Carrion Crow; hides dusky. The head, under side of the neck, the point of the breast, vings, and tail ar.e of a glossy bluish black; belly, back, scapulars, and upper side of the neck ai'e of a light ash-colour; legs and claws black. The Hooded Crow visits the southern parts of this kingdom in October, and retires northwai'd to breed in the be- ginning of Apiil; is found in some parts of Scotland duiing the summer; and we have received its eggs from Ireland, in some parts of which it continues the whole yeai’. The nest and eggs are similar to those of the Common Crow. In Eng- land these birds are principally found near the sea-coast, where the vaiious ani- mal matter thrown up by the tide afford a constant supply of food. It is also seen in considerable abundance upon some of our downs, or in the open champaign parts, where it feeds on grain, worms, and car- rion. Ten or a dozen ai'e not unusually seen perched together in the neighbour- hood of a dead sheep, patiently watching till the shepherd’s dog has filled his paunch, and, retiring to his master’s coat, is slunk in deep repose. Like the last species, it attacks the eyes of sickly ani- mals. We have seen it make repeated attacks upon the eyes of weakly sheep, and generally succeed if the animal is in- capable of rising. Mr. Pennant informs us this is the only species of genuine Crow in all the Hebrides, Orknies, and Shetlands, the Carrion and the Rook being unknown there. It is not uncom- mon in Germany; is also found in Russia and Siberia. Crow, Market Jew. — See Crow, Red- legged. Crow, Minden.—See Crow, Carrion. Crow, Mire.—See Gull, Blackheaded. Crow, Night.—See Goatsucker. Crow, Redlegged.—[ Yarrell, ii. 58; Hew- itson, Ivi. 218.] Coiwus graculus, Lin. Syst. i. p. 158,18 ; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 377 ; Ind. Orn. i. p. 165,41. Lath. Syn. Sup. ii. p. 115, No. 16; Bewick, Br. Birds, 1, t. p. 80; Shaw, Zool. vii. p. 378. Coracias, sen Pyrr- hocorax, Baii Syn. p. 40, A. 6; Will. p. 86, t. 19 ; Bris. ii. p. 3, t. 1, f. 1. Le Coracias, Btif. iii. p. 1, t. 1. Cornish Chough, Albin. ii. t. 24; Borlas, Cornw. p. 249, t. 24; Will.
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