RemarJcs on the Rook {Corvusfnigilegus L.). 24! 



through the trees ; the rest go quite in a different direction; 

 How are the last-raentioned birds to find the mule ? Every 

 minute carries them farther from it. Now, reverse the state- 

 ment ; and, instead of a mule newly dead, let us suppose a 

 mule in an offensive state of decomposition. I would stake 

 my life upon it, that not only the fifty vultures would be at 

 the carcass next morning, but also that every vulture in the 

 adjacent forest would manage to get there in time to partake 

 of the repast. 



Here I will stop, fearing that I have already drawn too 

 largely on the reader's patience ; but really I could not bear 

 to see the vulture deprived of the most interesting feature in 

 its physiognomy with impunity. These are notable times for 

 ornithology : one author gravely tells us that the water ousel 

 walks on the bottom of streams ; another describes an eagle 

 as lubricating its plumage from an oil-gland ; a third renews 

 in print the absurdity that the rook loses the feathers at the 

 base of the bill by seeking in the earth for its food ; while a 

 fourth, lamenting that the old name, Caprimulgus, serves to 

 propagate an absurd vulgar error, gives to the bird the new 

 name of m^t- stioallow. [See Vol. IV, p. 424.] 



" In nova fert animus." 



" The mind is disposed for novelties." 



I am. Sir, yours, &c. 

 Walton Hall, Dec. 21. 1831. Charles Waterton. 



Art. IV. RemarJcs on the Nudity on the Forehead and at the Base 

 of the Bill of the Rook [Corvus frugilegus L.). By Charles 

 Waterton, Esq. 



" Quae causa indigna serenos 



Fcedavit vultus, aut cur hasc nuda patescunt ? " 



" What has unworthily disfigured your sedate countenancej 

 or why do these naked spots appear ? " 



I HAVE more than once nearly made up my mind to sit me 

 down, some dismal winter's evening, and put together a few 

 remarks on the habits of the rook. His regular flight, in 

 congreoated numbers, over my house, in the morning to the 

 west, and his return at eve to the east, without the intermis- 

 sion of one single day, from the autumnal to the vernal 

 equinox, would be a novel anecdote in the page of his bio- 

 graphy. Tt) this might be added an explanation of the cause 

 of his sudden descent from a vast altitude in the heavens, 

 which takes place with such amazing rapidity that it creates 



Vol. v.— No. 25. r 



