CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 99 



and want of food as to be incapable of flying; numbers 

 at the same time being seen hovering over the breakers 

 a short distance at sea. They kept passing for nearly 

 a fortnight, few being noticed on fine days, but several 

 shewing themselves in the small pools near the sea- 

 beach in rough or windy weather. 



They are at all times most unsuspicious of danger, 

 generally allowing themselves to be approached within 

 three or four yards without exhibiting the slightest 

 signs of fear. 



The specimens in the case were shot among the 

 Oyster Ponds, in Shoreham Harbour, near Brighton, 

 in October, 1870. 



ROOK. 



Case 102. 



This is one of our most familiar British birds. 

 Opinions differ as to whether the Rook is beneficial, at 

 all seasons, to the farmer and the game-preserver. I 

 am, however, satisfied that the injury it occasionally 

 inflicts on the crops is amply atoned for by the 

 assistance it renders in ridding the ground of worms 

 and grubs. On the other hand, there can be no 

 denying the fact that a nest of eggs in an exposed 

 situation will be as readily destroj-ed by a Rook, as by 

 that well-known robber the Crow. 



I have, when fishing and shooting in the North Sea 

 during October, often met with large flocks of Rooks 

 on their way to this country. It was seldom that they 

 flew in straggling parties, like the Grey Crows ; those 

 that were seen singly, appearing to have fallen out 

 from the ranks through fatigue. After a gale of wind 



H 2 



