A BIRD CRIMINAL.
It is not pleasant to condemn any bird ; but if half the evidence given me in North Wales is true—and I fear all of it is true—the carrion crow cannot be acquitted of the worst crimes. The tribe is increasing, partly because it takes kindly to suburbs, if not to urban life; and with its increase its habits seem to grow worse and worse, as indeed happens with the undoubtedly useful and agreeable cousin, the rook. Carrion crows have been killing young lambs on the Welsh hills ; and have done damage enough to need special defences. They have been seen of late to pursue and kill young rabbits ; and no bird, except here and there the magpie, has done so much damage to poultry keepers. I have myself seen one kill and carry off a chicken within ten yards of three onlookers, an astonishing act of daring for a bird which is, or used to be, peculiarly shy of dangerous man. I should say that no bird, except perhaps the greater black-backed gull, is so ruthlessly destructive. Certainly the eagle and the buzzard are benefactors by comparison. The same part of the country is too favourable for the jackdaw. The numbers all along the coast are immense, food is a little scarce and so the birds have taken to robbing gardens. They will strip a row of peas almost as thoroughly as a jay whose taste for such
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