546 CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. 



man, or died a natural death, I know not. It, however, dis- 

 appeared in the course of a few weeks. I got one which had 

 several white feathers in its wrings ; it was also white on the 

 breast and the top of its head. 



" They are sometimes taught to mimic different kinds of 

 animals. There was an old woman in Bathgate who kept one 

 for some years, which I have again and again heard imitating 

 so remarkably well the barking of several dogs in the village, 

 that had it been placed out of view, it w^ould have been impos- 

 sible to have discovered the deception. 



" This morning (16th February 1887), I saw in a small 

 rookery behind my house a pair of Rooks refitting an old nest 

 which had resisted the winter's blast, and another pair carrying 

 sticks to commence a new one. This is the earliest instance 

 of nidification which I recollect of having seen. It was, no 

 doubt, owing to the uncommon mildness of the day. In gene- 

 ral, however, this does not take place before the first days of 

 March. They are excessively shy birds. A few years ago, 

 as they broke off a great many branches from my young apple 

 and pear trees for building their nests, I was determined to 

 banish them from the residence which they had so long pos- 

 sessed. This I found very difficult to accomplish, for after 

 having shot once or twice at them, they recognised my dress as 

 soon as I came within their sight, and immediately flew away. 

 As there were several labourers draining my garden, which was 

 a few yards from the rookery, I commonly put on one of their 

 coats, and wrought along with them. It was only in this way 

 that I succeeded in killing a few of them, and eventually in 

 banishing them for the season."' 



About the middle of February, the Rooks having returned 

 to their breeding places, which they commonly, or for the most 

 part, desert in winter, begin to inspect their old tenements, and 

 early in the following month commence the repairs rendered 

 necessary by the dilapidation produced by the fury of the winds. 

 From dawn to sunset all is bustle in the grove, where the 

 younger pairs may be seen rearing their first edifice, either in 

 a tree not previously occupied, or at a safe distance from those 

 of the older members of the community, who incessantly, but 



