BLACK CROW,
any rcparal inn (after the manner of the Book) for tile robberies they have committal Is, I u n of opinion, an
open question. It is probable • certain quantity of destructive grubs and insects form part of their diet; and
I have no doubt, from what I bare observed, that they clear on* large numbers or mice, if not young rats and
moles, during the course uf the year.
Many years ago I frequently observed this species poring wilb the Grey Crow in the Highlands; and for
some time I believed, when this was the case, that the young took after one or the other of the parents. In the
summer of 1800, when living in the north-west of Perthshire, I trapped one young bird and shot another near
the same spot, both af which exhibited signs or being a cross between the two species. la each case the
plumage of the whole of the body was black, with the exception of a small patch of grey on the neck and
hack. On first examining them 1 was in doubt whether they might be young Jackdaws, Iteing uncertain
whether that species had a white eye in the immature state. A glance at a Jackdaw's nest, however, disclose
the fact that the iris is of the same colour in t h e mature and immature stages. A few days later two more young
birds, in almost similar plumage, were killed in lac same I.],.,, hy the keener, who reported that be saw them
flying after a pair of old Crows, one of which was black and the other grey. During the remainder of my
residence in Perthshire I met with no further opportunities of observing this curious intermediate plumage.
Wsj kept down so effectually the whole raco of Crows, whether Grey or Black, that I do not remember n single
young one being hatched out in the neighbourhood. There were usually several Black Crows to be seen
early in the spring; these in every instance paired with Grey Crows. I never met with a pant of Black Crows
id that part of the Highlands. I often remarked that, however closely any species of this description of
vermin might be killed down, the places of those destroyed were filled up the following season. As but little
attention was paid to preserving on many of the adjoiniiii: shootings, there was always a reserve of Crows close
at hand to till up all vacancies.
A few years later I again fcU in with tho Black and Grey Crows interbreeding in the more northern
counties. The result of my olisenations only continued the opinion I had previously formed, vis. that the
offspring most frequently rescnthliHl eit her one or the other of the parents, though occasionally they showed n
half-and-half state of plumage. The information I received from foresters and keepers in the various districts
I passed through plainly indicated that those who had paid any attention to these birds were all aware of the
M M facts ; and in almost every case their experience was identical with my own. It appears that eertain
scientifle naturalists have at length arrived at the conclusion that the Grey and the Carrion or Black Crow
are simply varieties of one and the same species. According to the experience of several careful observers and
sportsmen, t h e progeny of a pair of birds, where one is black and the other grey, may be cither perfectly Black
or Grey Crows, or even young ones exhibiting a curious mixture of colour, black, as a rule, predominating.
This agrees with what I have myself witnessed and the reports 1 have received from keepers in various parls
of the Northern Highlands. Some writers also assert they mil with Crows showing "every stage of
plumage, from pure black to the perfectly marked Hooded Crow, and this without reference to aye or sex "
(the italics arc my own). As I have never come across these hybrids paired and bristling, I conclude the
writers must have been more successful in their ol>servations than myself. Unless the buds had been clearly
distinguished engage.) in nosting-op'rations, I should be of opinion it was scarcely justifiable to state that they
bad been recognized "t «11 ur/en. It is, however, quite possible that such observations may haw: been made
and recorded in some work to which I have not had access. I should not have noticed these statements, hud
1 not called to mind that they somew hat dtflnmd from the ideas of a very close observer of nature (a resident
in Inverness) with whom I had, some years ago, several discussions on tho above subject. This old Highlander
was perfectly convinced in his own mind that whatever colours the offspring of the Grey and Black Crows
wight take in their first plumage they would eventually turn into cither the perfect Black or Grey Cruw,
The fuels he related would certainly lead to the belief that, such changes must (occasionally at least) take place.
BLACK CROW. 8
As I have never yet had an opportunity of rearing any of these hybrids and keeping them in confinement
for any length of time, I am unable to give an opinion on the subject.
Though I have frequently observed the Grey or Hoodie Crow, at the time of migration, in the act of
making 1 he passage of the North Sea, 1 was never able positively to identify the Black Crow. From the crews
of tho light-ships off the east coast I could gather hut little information concerning them. It is probable that
a few, at all events, reach this country during the autumn, as i recognised a bird of this species on board a
lishiiiL'-hoal a short distance oil' Yarn n ail h, mid tin.' skipper informed ii'.e it bad thorn on ao'ird 1 hat morn inn1.
The Hlaek Crow is to bo met with in many parts of the British Islands ; and I have spent a considerable
amount of time in studying their habits; but in no single instance have 1 ever noticed Ihetn ncstiuir 'even
where one was mated with a Grey Crow) except on trees or hushes. I mention this fact, as I believe il is
reported by some writers that their manner of breeding rorrcspuuds with that of Grey Crows, whose nests, as
often as not, are placed on a cliff or an inland precipice. I have of course not the slightest wish to question
these statements; I merely describe the habits of the birds as I have witnessed them. The nest is a largo
and coarse structure. The outside materials vary according to the locality, the birds making use of
whatever sticks and twigs they find easiest to collect. Heather-stalks and routs, together with branches of
birch or fir, ere largely used in the Highlands. Nests that I have examined iu the southern and eastern
counties were composed of dead twigs of the, trees that grew nearest at hand. The remains of an old nest that
has been occupied in former years is often resorted to and patched up. The interior is warm and comfortable,
being lined with sheep's wool, hair, dried strands of line grass, or any soft material.
1 was particularly struck by the depth and warmth of the interior of the cradle that a pair of Crows (one
Black, the other Crcy I had prepared for t heir a hi eipati i brood. ['he ' -' \\ IS placed on the top mo-1 branches
of a lofty tree overhanging a bill-burn that dashed down the mountain-side through a rift or chasm in the solid
rock. Both parents having been shot within au hour of one another, the nest was now untenanted ; and I was
anxious to remove it, so that it might no longer attract any wandering Crow to tho spot. To reach it by
climbing was decidedly risky, even if practicable. The branches of the tree on which ¡1 was built stretched
over the gorge, at an angle that looked excessively dangerous; anil it appeared that, in take the nest, the w hole limb
would need to be sawn oil'. Before commencing Ibis somen hat aid.ioiis uudcrtiikiui;', 1 IVM>1\ EIL to :,1 tempt to
cut it down by means of a rltle-bullet. The main branch, thai sustained the nest, was not less than from Iwo to
three inches in diameter immediately below the structure; but having found a convenient rest for the rifle,
the operation was completed far more rapidly than I had anticipated. The first shot cut away a considerable
portion of tin1 supporting limb ; aud the second hn\ iug smashed the remainder, the nc-t and the surrounding
twigs dropped at once. Being caught, however, by a lower arm of the tree, it needed a third shot to bring
it to the ground. The eggs, which were partly incubated, had fallen out and smashed among the rocks.
While examining flic materials with which the nest was composed, I discovered I lie remains of the shell of
the egg of a Ring-Ouzel still adhering to some of the sticks. This had probably been brought as (bod to the
female while sitting. The situation chosen by this pair of Crows was particularly suitable to the requirements
of these ever-watchful and rapacious birds. From the upper branches of the tree an uninterrupted view could
he obtained of the wild and rocky glen, rendering an undetected approach to their quarters almost impossible;
while the steep and rugged banks of the burn (concealed iu several parts by lone and rank heather, inveigled
many an unfortunate sheep to its doom, atTording, consequently, an almost inexhaustible supply of food. It
was seldom, if ever, that I passed the spot without noticing a carcass or two of highly scented mutton slowly
decomposing in some quiet pool, or tirudy wedded between the stones that formed the rocky bed of the torrent.
I was greatly amused one spring at the horror expressed by a stranger to the district (more used to paved
footways than mountain-sides), who persisted in indulging iu a copious draught of the sparkling waters of this
identical stream. Weary and utterly fagged out by the unusual exertion, he made his way fo the side of the