The Wood Crow from Switzerland.
Numb. X V I .
TH IS Bird is about the bignefs of a common Hen, its Bill is red,
long and fit to thruft into narrow Chinks and Holes o f the Earth
Trees, Walls, and Rocks, to fetch out Grubs and InfeCts lurking
there. It alfo feeds on Gralhoppers, Crickets, the Grubs of the Cockchafer,
little Fiih and Frogs. Its Head is of a dusky yellow, with Shades
o f red; it hath a Creft on the hinder part of the Head hanging down •
the Body, Wings and Tail are of a dark green, with a Shade of Purple ]
the Legs and Feet o f the Colour of the Bill; they build for the moil
part in high Walls of demoliihed or ruinous Towers, which are common
in Switzerland-, they fly very high; they lay two or three Eggs; the
Young fly about the beginning of June, and if taken before they can
fly are eafily fed and made tame, fo as to fly out into the Fields and
return of their own accord. The young ones are commended for good
Meat, and counted a Dainty; their Fleih is fweet and their Bones tender.
Thofe that take them out of the Nefts, are wont to leave one in
<ach, that they may the more willingly return the following Year.
They are called in Switzerland Waldrapp, .and Steinrapp, that is
Wood-Crows, becaufe they delight to live in woody, mountainous, and
defert Places; where they build in Rocks and old forlaken Towers.
This Bird I had out of the Collection of Sir Thomas Lowther.
Toe