NATURAL HISTORY. 275 



wool and feathers, and sea-weed if it builds near the sea-shore. 

 It lays from four to seven eggs, of a pale green colour, spotted 

 with greenish brown. The length of the bird is two feet two 

 inches, and the expanse of \ving four feet eight inches. 



Frugilegus (Lat. Corn-gatherer), the Rook. 



The ROOK inhabits almost every part of Europe, and is very 

 common in England, where it lives in a kind of semi-domesti- 

 cation, usually inhabiting a grove of trees near a house, or in 

 a park, where it is protected by the owner, although he makes 

 it pay for this accommodation by shooting the young once every 

 year. Apparently in consequence of this annual persecution, 

 the Rook has an intense horror of guns, perceiving them at a 

 great distance. While feeding in flocks in the fields, or 

 following the ploughman in his course, and devouring the 

 worms and grubs turned up by the share, the Rook has 

 always a sentinel planted in a neighbouring tree, who instantly 

 gives the alarm at the sight of a gun, or of a suspicious-looking 

 object. 



The good which the Rook does by devouring the grubs of 



