5^0 CORVCS FRUGILEGUS. 



rious modulated notes, and a gruff old fellow or two croaked 

 aloud at intervals. The great variety of notes emitted by the 

 Rooks under these different circumstances greatly surprised 

 me ; for although I had been aware that their cry is not always 

 merely a Craa, I did not imagine that their voice was capable 

 of presenting so many modifications. 



The young are generally fledged about the 20th of May, and 

 when they make their appearance on the edge of the nests, and 

 perch on the branches, aiford what some people are pleased to 

 call good sport ; in other words, are shot in great numbers. 

 But, in many cases, they are taken from the nest by boys in 

 various stages of growth. This devastation is permitted by 

 their patrons, who, although proud of having a rookery near 

 their mansion, are unw^illing to be incommoded by an unneces- 

 sary increase of its inmates. Young Rooks are variously re- 

 ported to be delicate, tolerable, or disgusting eating ; but as 

 I have not tasted their flesh I am unable to decide in this 

 matter. 



The food with wdiich they are supplied consists chiefly of 

 grubs, worms, and seeds, and is conveyed in the mouths of their 

 parents, who continue gathering until the mass accumulated 

 causes the skin of the throat and between the crura of the lower 

 mandible to protrude. This circumstance however is not pe- 

 culiar to the Rook, for I have seen the Robin, the Thrush, and 

 other small birds, going to their young with their mouths quite 

 filled with insects. It is pleasant to observe w^ith what activity 

 the Rooks cater for their brood, and how much self-denial they 

 evince in endeavouring to procure an abundant supply for them. 

 Their whole life is one of ceaseless activity, and therefoi*e must 

 be one of pleasure. All day long they labour in the fields and 

 pastures, digging among tufts of decayed grass, thrusting their 

 bills into the soft earth, or picking up the worms, mollusca, 

 and seeds that are found on the surface. The acuteness of 

 their sight must be very great, as we may be convinced from 

 such circumstances as the following. In March of the present 

 year, when the ground was covered with snow to a considerable 

 depth, I observed on the road about fifty rooks crowded together, 

 and busily engaged in picking up something. On going to the 



