142 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



by no means so careful as that, and often build eight or ten 

 nests on a slender branch. They are punctual, too, in their 

 building, as become burghers. No matter how hard the 

 winter or tardy the spring, there wall always be 3^oung rooks 

 on May 14th. Even after the Arctic winter of 1890-91, 

 there were young rooks on the appointed day. 



Much has been written as to the time they pair ; my own 

 impression is they pair for life, and, like the citizens they 

 are, they are most discreet in their love-making; it is done 

 so respectably, away on the marshes, as a rule, in a secluded 

 spot recently mown, and always on the ground, and early of 

 a morning. They don't like to be seen, but I have been 

 bold enough (or rash enough, an you will) to surprise them 

 in the act. There is no rapture in it, but it is a mere 

 business-like proceeding, eminently respectable and bour- 

 geois. 



As will be seen, they begin their nesting in February, 

 soon after appearing at the rookery, with jackdaws and an 

 occasional artful carrion crow, whence their noisy cawings 

 resound all day. 



When the young are hatched, business commences, and 

 the old cock-birds go off to the fields and marshes, gathering 

 pouches full of wire-worms, grubs, beetles (from old cow- 

 dung heaps), returning ever and anon to the rookery, over 

 which the hens are watchmen. The worms they capture as 

 does a thrush, but they are quicker, and do not take two 

 bites at a cherry. 



If at this season of the year you approach a rooker}^, you 

 will see the birds rise above the trees before you get near, 

 cawing and flying about in the air, signalling to every rook 

 in the country round that that bad man is coming ; but if 

 you steal up and lie in a dry ditch, as I have done for hours, 

 they will gradually settle down, but you may be sure more 

 than one pair of bright eyes is upon you to signal your 

 slightest suspicious movement. 



You will then see the cocks come flying in with full 



