BIRD COURTS OF JUSTICE. 833 



sailed by the incessantly vehement cawing of an outer ring, con- 

 sisting of many hundreds, each and all showing even greater 

 indignation than was manifested by the more select number." 

 Even the scouts, although hovering about in all directions, were 

 so deeply absorbed in the proceedings that they failed to notice 

 their uninvited spectator. After a short time, the manner of the 

 accused was seen suddenly and completely to change : his head 

 bowed, his wings drooped, and he cawed faintly, as if imploring 

 mercy. The inner circle closed in upon him and pecked him to 

 pieces in a few moments, leaving nothing but a mangled carcass. 

 The whole assembly then set up a tremendous screaming and 

 dispersed ; some seeking the adjacent rookery, but the greater 

 number flying away across the fields. It is commonly known 

 that rooks are addicted to pilfering, and that if the robbery is de- 

 tected the offender is punished. It has been noticed that young 

 rooks will often pilfer twigs or other useful materials from the 

 nests of their elders, with which to build their own domiciles 

 quickly ; and although they are too cunning to be caught in the 

 act, only committing their thefts when both the owners of the 

 nest are absent, the robbery seems always to get known. When 

 the crime has been discovered and proved, eight or ten rooks are 

 apparently deputed to act on behalf of the whole community ; 

 they proceed to the convicts' nest, and in a few moments scatter 

 it to the winds. 



An Alpine tourist relates that, during an excursion in the 

 Swiss mountains, he accidentally came upon a small secluded 

 glen, which was surrounded by trees, and became the unexpected 

 witness of a singular spectacle. About sixty or seventy ravens 

 were ranged in a ring round one of their fellows, evidently re- 

 puted a culprit, and, with much clatter of tongues and wings, 

 were engaged in discussing his alleged delinquencies. At inter- 

 vals they paused in their debate, in order to permit the accused 

 to reply, which he did most vociferously and with intense energy ; 

 but all his expostulations were speedily drowned in a deafening 

 chorus of dissent. Eventually, the court appears to have arrived 

 at the unanimous conclusion that the felon had utterly failed to 

 exculpate himself ; and they suddenly flew at him from all sides 

 and tore him to pieces with their powerful beaks. Having exe- 

 cuted their sentence, they speedily disappeared. 



Sparrows also are said to hold judicial inquiry into the con- 

 duct of, and mete out punishment to, their fellow-sparrows, but 

 without the formalities which the rooks seem to observe. When 

 a misdeed has been brought home to any one of their community, 

 a force of four or more sparrows is deputed to carry out the exe- 

 cution of the verdict. In their hurry to discharge the decree, 

 they all tumble over one another with the greatest pugnacity, 



VOL. XXXIII. — 53 



