Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 127 



this bird. An examination of tlie contents of the stomachs 

 of dead Rooks by the Highland Agricultural Society appeared 

 to demonstrate tliat tlie birds had Yixcd bv eating* m-ain 

 instead of noxious grubs and insects, and in consequence 

 many rookeries have been destroyed. Mr. Wilson, however, 

 goes on to say that " another point of general interest to 

 ornithologists has been brouglit out here by INIr. Turnbull, 

 B.Sc, who has examined dead Rooks where a rookery was 

 being ' cleared out,' and fomid gru})s and wire-worms in the 

 l)irds when dissected shortly after they Mere killed, but 

 grain only in those examined a day or two after being 

 destroyed, his contention being that digestion went on after 

 death, and that this accoimted for little but grain being 

 found in those the subject of the Highland Agricultural 

 Society's Report. This digestion after death is worthy of 

 attention, and tends to bring out the views most commonly 

 held on the food of the Rook. Tliose forwarded to the 

 Highland Agricultural Society were driven by rail to Edin- 

 burgh from INIontrose, and time must have elapsed before 

 they Mere examined." 



The Raven is no longer to be foimd, having been for 

 many a year driven aM^ay from most inland localities in 

 England. Persecution has been too much for it, and it 

 now betakes itself to the overhanging ledges of the preci- 

 pitous cliffs round the coast, MJiere it still nests in compara- 

 tive safety. Enfield, hoM^ever, can boast of being the last 

 locality in Middlesex frequented by these fine birds, and 

 can shoM' the tree still standing on M'hich they used to 



