241 

 NOTES ON THE ROOK. (CORVUS FRUGILEOUS.) ^.^-x 



BY S. STONE, ESQ. /vik'^- 



PROM OBSERVATIONS MADE DOKINO THE LATE FROST. I '^'{^^ 



BY JOHN S. STONE, ESQ. ^^^/.'RAl' 



On tlie IStli ult., a dense fog prevailed, with a frosty air, which had the 

 effect of incrusting the branches of trees and shrubs with rime ; thus form- 

 ing one of those charming scenes with which, when the sun breaks through 

 and dissipates the mist, we are sometimes in winter indulged, as a set-off 

 against the general dreariness and gloom of that season as compared with 

 the other quarters of the year. From circumstances like this, encourage- 

 ment may be derived, and a profitable lesson drawn : we may learn not to 

 despair when either our temporal or spiritual prospects appear dark and 

 gloomy ; for as the fog lent its aid, and indeed was indispensable, in the 

 production of a picture of extreme purity and beauty, so may the darkness 

 and obscurity in which we find our prospects enveloped, be the very means 

 of their becoming brighter and more glorious than before. We are assured 

 that " all things work together for good " to those who love God. Often, too, 

 are we shown, that " out of evil " He can " bring forth good." 



In the evening, the fog continuing, and even increasing in density, a large 

 flock of Rooks, numbering upwards of a thousand, took up a position in the 

 rookery at Tei-rick House, where they remained during the night. This 

 circumstance was not much to be wondered at, seeing that the prosecution 

 of an aerial voj'^age in such a state of the atmosphere, would have been about 

 as discreet an undertaking as a voyage across " the pathless deep " without 

 sun, stars or compass to steer b}^ : to have foretold the result in either case 

 would have been easy enough, and that without the aid of astrology. It 

 did, however, occasion much surprise, when, the next evening, they again 

 made their appearance, and again composed themselves for the night. This 

 they have continued to do regularly from that date to the present time. 

 Whether they intend to make this a permanent roosting place or not, 

 remains to be seen ; but from its proximity to a public road, and the trees 

 being but few in number, and occupying but a very limited space in com- 

 parison with the usual roosting places of this species, I think it unlikely 

 that they will long continue their niglitly resorts to it ; their having done 

 so at this season, or during any, except the breeding season, is an extra- 

 ordinaiy — and, as far as I am aware- an unprecedented circvmistance, and 

 therefore Avorth placing on record. 



On the morning of the 2nd inst., four of these birds were found lying dead 

 under the trees. On the 3rd, seventeen, and on the 4th, eighteen more were 

 found. Suspecting that they had been poisoned, my brother opened several 

 of them, when the cause of death was fully explained: there were no traces 



VOL. V. M 



