CORVUS. the last species and ravens. Besides insects, it also feeds on all sorts of grain, to some inconvenience perhaps to the husbandman, but no doubt doubly repaid by the good done him in extirpating the maggot of the chaferbeetle, which in some seasons destroys whole crops of corns by feeding on the roots. The rook is a gregarious bird, sometimes being seen in immense flocks, so as to almost darken the air. These flights they regularly perform morning and evening, except in breeding-time, when the daily attendance of both male and female is required for the use of incubation, or feeding the young; for it is observed that they do both by turns. As these birds are apt to form themselves into societies, such places as they frequent during the breeding-time are called rookeries; and they generally choose a large clump of the tallest trees for this purpose; but make so great a litter, and such a perpetual chatter, that nothing but habit and a length of time can reconcile one to the noise. The eggs are like those of crows, but less, and the spots larger. They begin to build in March, and after the breeding-season forsake their nest trees, going to roost elsewhere, but have been observed to return to them in August: in October they repair their nests. In Britain they remain the whole year; yet we are told that both in France and Silesia they are birds of passage. Whether they migrate or not in Sweden, we are not told; but Linnaeus talks of their building there. The young birds are accounted good eating, especially if skinned and put in a pie.
4. The cornix, or royston crow, pretty much resembles the rook, feeding on insects, and flying together in great flocks. In England it is a bird of passage, visiting that kingdom in the beginning of winter, and leaving it with the woodcocks. In the maritime parts they feed on crabs and shell-fish. They are very common in Scotland: in many parts of the Highlands, and in all the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland, it is the only species of genuine crow; the carrion and rook being unknown there. It breeds and continues in those parts the whole year round. In the Highlands, they breed indifferently in all kinds of trees: lay six eggs: have a shriller note than the common crows; are much more mischievous; pick out the eyes of lambs, and even of horses when engaged in bogs. They are, therefore, in many places proscribed, and rewards given for killing them. For want of other food these birds will eat cranberries or other mountain berries.
5. The dauricus, or white-breasted crow, is in length about 12 inches: the bill is black; the head and throat are black, glossed with blue; the neck and breast white; the rest of the body, wings, and tail, blue black; the legs of a lead-colour; the claws black. The specimen figured by Buffon came from Senegal; but it is by no means confined to that quarter. Pallas describes the same species, which he says come early in the spring in great flights from China, and the southern Monguls country, into the parts about the lake Baikal, but most frequent about the towns and villages on the river Lena, in which part the jackdaws and Royston crows are very seldom seen. It is said they are likewise found in vast numbers in the island of Johann, where they live chiefly on insects and fruits, and make their nests in trees.
6. The monedula, or jack-daw, weighs nine ounces; the length thirteen inches, the breadth twenty-eight. The head is large in proportion to its body; which, Mr Willoughby says, argues him to be ingenious and crafty. The irides are white: the breast and belly are of a dusky hue inclining to ash-colour: the rest of the plumage is black, slightly glossed with blue: the claws very strong and hooked. It is a docile and loquacious bird. Jack-daws breed in flocks, old castles, and in high rocks, laying five or six eggs. Sometimes they have been known to breed in hollow-trees near a rookery, and join those birds in their foraging parties. In some parts of Hampshire, they make their nests in rabbit holes: they also build in the interstices between the upright and transverse stones of Stonehenge; a proof of the prodigious height of that stupendous antiquity, for their nests are placed beyond the reach of the shepherd boys, who are always idling about this spot. They are gregarious birds; and feed on insects, grain, and seeds.—These birds are frequently brought up tame: they have a practice of hiding that part of their food which they cannot eat; and often, along with it, they secrete small valuables, thereby sometimes occasioning injurious suspicions of theft in servants or others not guilty.
7. The glandarius, or jay, is one of the most beautiful of British birds. The weight is between six and seven ounces: the length 13 inches. The forehead is white streaked with black; the head is covered with very long feathers, which it can erect at pleasure into the form of a crest: the whole neck, back, breast, and belly, are of a faint purple dashed with grey; the covert-feathers of the wings are of the same colour. The first quill-feather is black; the exterior webs of the nine next are ash-coloured; the interior webs dusky; the six next are black, but the lower sides of their exterior webs are white tinged with blue; the two next wholly black; the last of a fine bay colour tipped with black. The lesser coverts are of a light bay: the greater covert feathers most beautifully barred with a lively blue, black, and white: the rest are black: the rump is white. The tail consists of twelve black feathers. The feet are of a pale brown; the claws large and hooked.—Jays build chiefly in woods, making their nest of sticks, fibres of roots, and tender twigs; and lay five or six eggs, of the size of a pigeon's, cinereous olive, marked with pale brown. The young keep with the old ones till the next pairing time in spring; when they choose each his mate to produce their future progeny. In general they feed on acorns, nuts, seeds, and fruits of all kinds; but will sometimes destroy young chickens and eggs, and will also take away birds that have been caught in a trap or entangled with birdlime. They are often kept in cages, and will talk pretty well; but then lose all their beauty so conspicuous in the wild state.
8. The caryocatactes, or nutcracker, is somewhat less than the jack-daw: the bill is strong, straight, and black: the colour of the whole head and neck, breast and body, of a rusty brown: the crown of the head and rump are plain; the other parts marked with triangular white spots: the wings are black; the coverts spotted in the same manner as the body: the tail is rounded at the end, black tipped with white: the vent-feathers
Corvus. feathers are white; the legs dusky. We find these birds scattered in many parts of Europe, but no where so plenty as in Germany; they are found also in Sweden and Denmark, where they frequent the mountainous parts. Sometimes they come in vast flocks into France, especially Burgundy. They visit England very seldom; are also found in North America, but not near the sea-coasts. One has been brought from Kamtchatka by the late voyagers.—In manners this bird is said to resemble the jay, laying up a store of acorns and nuts. In some parts it keeps chiefly in the pine forests, on the kernels of which it then feeds; but is said frequently to pierce the trees like the woodpecker, for which the bill seems not unapt. It makes its nest in holes of trees. Klein mentions two varieties, one smaller than the other; the largest, he says, breaks the nuts to pieces, and the other pierces them. Both feed at times on wild berries and insects.
9. The pica, or magpie, is in length above 18 inches, and weighs 8 or 9 ounces. The bill is black: the irides are hazel: the scapulars, and all the under parts from the breast, are white; the rest of the plumage, wings, and tail, black, glossed with green, purple, and blue, in different lights: the eleven first quills are white in the middle on the inner web, lessening by degrees as they advance inwards: the tail is very cuneiform, the two middle feathers being near 11 inches in length, and the outmost only 5 inches and a half: the legs are black. We can form no judgment of the beauties of this bird, from those dirty mutilated specimens which we see exposed daily in a wicker cage at every stall. It is only in a state of nature that they can be found; and whoever views them in this state, will do so with astonishment: for though the colours, at a distant view, seem to be mere black and white, yet the splendor that meets in every new situation the eye of the beholder, will oblige him to own that there is not a more beautiful bird in Britain. In these parts it is every where common. Mr Latham has been able to trace this bird no farther south than Italy on the European continent; and to the north, Sweden, and Denmark. Forster met with it at Madeira; and it is also seen in America, but not common, and is a bird of passage in those parts. At Hudson's Bay it is called by the Indians Oue-ta-kee-afke, which signifies Heart-Bird; but for what reason does not appear. In manners it approaches to the crow, feeding almost on every thing in turn, both animal and vegetable; and like that will kill young ducks and chickens, and suck the eggs. It builds its nest with art, making a thorny cover at top, leaving a hole on the side for admittance; lays six or seven pale greenish eggs, thickly spotted with black. It is a crafty bird in every state, and if brought up young, becomes exceedingly familiar, and will talk a great many sentences, as well as imitate every noise within hearing, like a parrot, but not near so plain.
10. The graculus, or red-legged crow, is but thinly scattered over the northern world: no mention is made of it by any of the Faunists; nor do we find it in other parts of Europe except Britain and the Alps. It is produced in the island of Canada in Asia; and it visits Egypt towards the end of the inundations of the Nile. Except in Egypt, it affects mountainous and rocky
Nº 92.
places; builds its nest in high cliffs or ruined towers; and lays four or five eggs, white spotted with a dirty yellow. It feeds on insects, and also on new-fown corn. They commonly fly high, make a shriller noise than the jack-daw, and may be taught to speak. It is a very tender bird, and unable to bear very severe weather; is of an elegant, slender make; active, restless, and thieving; much taken with glitter, and so meddling as not to be trusted where things of consequence lie. It is very apt to catch up bits of lighted sticks; so that there are instances of houses being set on fire by its means; on which account Camden calls it incendiaria avis. It is found in Cornwall, Flintshire, Caernarvonshire, and Anglesea, in the rocky cliffs along the shores. It is also found in Scotland as far as Strathnavern, and in some of the Hebrides. Its colour is wholly black, beautifully glossed over with blue and purple: the legs and bill are of a bright orange colour inclining to red: the tongue is almost as long as the bill, and a little cloven: the claws are large, hooked, and black.
11. The cristatus, or blue jay, is much smaller than the common jay. The bill is black and above an inch long: the head is crested and blue: a streak of the sides of the head and throat are of a bluish white, and there is a spot of the same over the eye: hind part of the neck and back is blue: the wings and tail are the same; all the feathers of the last, except the two middle ones, tipped with white; the feathers of both it and the wings elegantly barred with black, and the greater coverts and second quills tipped with white: the breast is of a blossom colour; the belly and under tail-coverts white: the legs are dusky brown: the tail is nearly as long as the rest of the bird. The colours of the female are less bright than those of the male.—This species is said to be peculiar to North America, but not seen farther north than the town of Albany. It builds in swamps, and has a soft delicate note. Its food is hazel-nuts, chestnuts, and such like, which it breaks by placing between the feet, and pecking with the bill till the shell gives way. It is also very fond of maize; and being a gregarious bird, often unites into flocks of 20,000 at least, which alighting on a field of 10 or 12 acres soon lay waste the whole: hence it is reckoned the most destructive bird in that country. They will often take up with snails and vermin thro' necessity, but not while any thing they like better is to be got at. They are not accounted good to eat.
12. The canadensis is in length 9 inches, and weighs two ounces. The bill is blackish, and not quite an inch long: the irides are black: the forehead and throat are of a dirty yellowish white: the hind head and sides of blackish brown: the upper parts of the body are brown; beneath pale ash, palest on the breast: the quills and tail are brown, tipped with white: tail is a little wedged: the legs and claws are blackish. These birds inhabit Canada; and are frequent near Hudson's Bay, where they are called Whiskijohn and Whiskijack. They breed early in the spring; build in pine-trees; and have two, rarely three, young at a time. The eggs are blue. They are not gregarious. Their food is black moths, worms, and flesh. They are very bold pissing birds, stealing from the traveller even salt meat, and devouring often the bait from the traps set
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